Gbajabiamila Fights Back, Says He Was Never Convicted

Tobi Soniyi A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who contested and lost the speakership seat during the inaugural sitting of the House on June 9, 2015, has denied allegation of previous criminal conviction in Georgia, United States of America.

In a counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court in opposing the suit by Social Justice and Civil Rights Awareness, Gbajabiamila denied the allegation that he was convicted in the US.

The plaintiff, through its lawyer, Mike Ozekhom (SAN), had urged the court to disqualify Gbajabiamila from aspiring to the office of the Speaker of the House on the grounds that he was not a fit and proper person having been convicted in the US. The plaintiff had stated that Gbajabiamila as a lawyer was convicted for professional misconduct by the Supreme Court of Georgia, United States of America in 2007. Despite the fact that Gbajabiamila had lost the speakership election to Yakubu Dogara, the plaintiff insisted yesterday that it would go ahead to challenge the legislator’s eligibility to remain in the House of Representatives.

But Gbajabiamila’s Senior Legislative Assistant, Osaze Ogunditie, stated in a counteraffidavit dated June 18, 2015, filed in opposition to the motion by the plaintiff seeking a restraining order against the legislator, denied the conviction record. Ogunditie also said that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the suit.