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Tag: Ayo Fayose

  • Fayose appears in court for Kanu

    Fayose appears in court for Kanu

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, made a surprise appearance in court on Tuesday in solidarity with the detained Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, whose trial comes up before Justice Murtala Nyako later in the day.

    Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, said the governor is now seated in High Court 4, Abuja.

    Kanu is arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on multiple charges of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and membership of an illegal organization, among others.

    Details later…

     

  • Sheriff: Wike gave Jonathan N50m for PDP stakeholders meeting

    Sheriff: Wike gave Jonathan N50m for PDP stakeholders meeting

    The court backed National Chairman of People’s Democratic (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has alleged that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike gave former President Goodluck Jonathan N50 million to organise the recent stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

    But Dr. Jonathan has denied the allegation, saying that he took it upon himself to convene the meeting out of his genuine concern for peace to reign in the party.

    Also reacting to the allegation, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose said Sheriff has taking his desperation too far by accusing the former president of taking bribe.

    Fayose, in an SMS message by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, stated, “If Sheriff has taken his desperation to serve his paymasters in the APC to the level of accusing Jonathan of being bribed to organise peace meeting for the PDP, there is no reason for any sane mind to continue to respond to the continuous advertisement of his political insanity”.

    But Sheriff who spoke through his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh at a news conference at the party’s secretariat on Thursday, said Governors Wike and Fayose recruited the Jonathan into a fake peace effort pre-determined to scuttle ongoing peace initiative in the party.

    “The result is that President Jonathan was lured into committing a serious breach of protocol that led ‎to the failure of the exercise which was the intended outcome”, Sheriff said.

    According to him, Wike and the media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi have already established their own political party, adding that their mission was to tie the PDP down with undue controversies.

    He further stated that the party was worried that the amount of money Wike was spending on the crisis could smear the image of the PDP

    “This money belongs to the people of Rivers State and it should not be misappropriated at the expense of the people to whom it rightfully belonged.

    “We therefore call on party leaders and Nigerians to refrain from accepting these monies from Governor Wike in line with the spirit of our founding fathers”, Sheriff added.

    The party chairman restated his determination to go ahead with the plans to organise a convention for the party, saying preparations for a free and fair convention were in top gear.

    Sheriff directed state chapter chairmen of the PDP to forward to the party secretariat the lists of all statutory delegates to the convention on or before April 27.

    He added that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party would hold on May 3.

    Dr. Jonathan who spoke through his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, dismissed Sheriff’s allegation that he collected N50 million from Wike.

    According to him, he intervened in the crisis because of his genuine commitment to bring about peace in the party that made him president.

    “I don’t think anybody will believe that Jonathan collected money from anybody to organise the meeting. It was out of his genuine concern to bring peace to the party.

    “He has been meeting with members of the party; he met with Sheriff severally, he also met with Makarfi severally. He met with the governors.

    “I don’t see any reason for anybody to say that Jonathan collected money from anybody to organise the stakeholders conference”, Eze said.

     

  • Sheriff’s reinstatement, rape on democracy – Fayose

    Sheriff’s reinstatement, rape on democracy – Fayose

    The chairman of the Governors Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Appeal Court, Port Harcourt judgement reinstating Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the party, as a `rape on democracy’.

    Ayo Fayose, who is also Ekiti State Governor, made the remark in Abuja on Friday while reacting to the outcome of the judgement.

    According to Fayose, the judgment was against the will of the people.

    The Appeal Court in Port Harcourt in a ruling Friday nullified PDP National Convention held in the Rivers capital in May 2016.

    The court also nullified the National Caretaker Committee of the party constituted at the convention, and held that Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff remains the National Chairman of PDP.

    Two out of the three-member Appeal Court, Justice B.G. Sanga and Justice A. Gumel, in their judgment said the Port Harcourt convention on May 21, 2016, was an abuse of court process.

    Delivering the lead judgment, Sanga said that PDP did not follow the provisions of Article 47(3) of its Constitution in the removal of the Sherrif-led National Working Committee.

    Fayose, however, said that the party would appeal the judgment in the Supreme Court.

    “If the people truly symbolise what a party is, then the machinations of our detractors and the anti-democracy organs will not prevail at last.

    “We commend the minority judgment of the lower court and we believe the truth will prevail. It is a matter of time.

    “Thank God we have another opportunity to seek justice at the Supreme Court, which I believe will not be delayed or denied, because when justice is delayed it is denied.

    “It is a party matter that must be addressed as soon as possible.

    “The party will appeal the judgement as we believe in the ability of the judiciary to do justice,’’ Fayose said.

    The governor however, appealed to members, sympathisers, leaders and supporters of the PDP to remain calm saying “we are sure justice will come at last’’.

    “If this is the price to pay, to keep our democracy alive and opposition strengthened, we are prepared to go the whole hug and for a time like this,’’ the governor said.

    Fayose said that organs of the party would meet shortly to take concrete decisions on the way forward.

    He also assured that the governors’ forum and various organs of the leadership of the party remain united and strong.

    “You have the assurance of my colleagues that we should be less worried about this development.

    “We will take steps and continue to ensure that the interest and future of this party is not mortgaged,”he said.

    The forum chairman said that the Sen. Ahmed Markarfi-led PDP faction has majority of supporters on its side including governors, senators, House of Representatives members, state party chairmen.

    “We want to believe that the same judiciary will right the wrong,’’ he said.

    Fayose said the judgement would not affect ongoing efforts aimed at re-positioning the party or the governorship election in his state.

    “I am a nation of Israel amidst the enemies; nobody defeats the nation of Israel. I will never be defeated,’’ the governor said.

    On the withheld Ekiti state’s statutory allocation, Fayose assured the workers to expect their salaries on Tuesday.

    “I can gladly tell you that a letter has been transmitted since yesterday (Thursday) for the release of the money. Whatever reason they give is not as important as that money.

    “I want to assure the people of Ekiti that they will get alert on Tuesday,’’ Fayose said

    In his reactions, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Sen. Walid Jubril, said that the judgment was not a threat to the party but would rather unite them.

    He said that the party would go to any length to resolve the issue.

    Jubril also urged PDP members to be calm and not defect to other parties as it was engaging in consultation with all organs of the party to ensure that the party remained strong.

    “I am sure that very soon everybody will smile. Those who are crying today will laugh again and PDP will one day become one party and strong. All these is a question of time,’’ Jubril said.

    He said that the party would on Tuesday come out with a statement. (NAN)

  • Fayose gives retiree N100,000 for returning N1.8m

    Fayose gives retiree N100,000 for returning N1.8m

    Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, on Thursday gave a cash reward of N100,000 to a retired Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs Mary Omotosho, for returning the sum of N1.78m wrongfully paid to her by the Ekiti State Pensions Commission.

    The governor, who gave the reward at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, described her action as “uncommon and unbelievable”.

    He urged other citizens to emulate the good example of Omotosho, whenever they might have been wrongfully paid.

    “I commend your honesty and it is good to appreciate people who do well; when we do that, we are encouraging others to do same. Some people tend to do evil because those doing well are not appreciated. I am calling on those who may have been wrongfully credited with money that is not theirs to pay back,” he said.

    Earlier, Mrs Omotosho, who is a retired Chief Nursing Officer with the state Local Government Service Commission, recalled that a few days before Christmas, she got a credit alert from her bank paying the N1.8 million sum to her.

    “Though I am on a monthly pension, I knew that was a mistake as my monthly pension is not up to that.

    “I waited for the bank t‎o retrieve the money, but that did not happen.

    “A few days after, I got the real alert for my monthly pension, and I went to the Pensions Commission to report the matter and I was given an account number to pay the excess money into.

    “I did a bank draft and paid the money into that account. Though  I am a retiree, I don’t take what does not belong to me. I believe God will always meet my needs,” she said.

    Omotosho thanked Gov. Fayose for the recognition accorded her, as well as the cash reward.

  • Fayose haunted by his past – Oni

    Fayose haunted by his past – Oni

    Former Ekiti State Governor, Segun Oni, has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of raising false alarm over allegations that he (Oni) is part of an alleged plot to compromise judiciary to sack him from office.

    Oni, who is also the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described Fayose as a comedian who will never stop entertaining Nigerians with wild allegations.

    He described the latest allegation as one coming from a mind gripped by fear of the unknown.

    Speaking through his media aide, Ayo Akinyemi, Oni said he has the utmost respect for the judiciary and would never indulge in any acts to bring the revered institution into ridicule and opprobrium.

    He said the purported meeting where he and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, boasted to APC members of intent to enlist the judiciary for the alleged plot only exists in the imagination of Fayose.

    Oni said: “Fayose himself knows that no judiciary can remove him now because he enjoys immunity until the expiration of his tenure on October 15, 2018. He can only be investigated, so what is Fayose talking about?

    “Perhaps Fayose is afraid of facing the law after his immunity might have expired next year and that is why he is labouring now to spill the beans in anticipation of his doom. He is a drowning man trying to clutch the last straw and smear anybody.

    “In a normal setting, should he (Fayose) have contested for governorship in the first instance? This is a man having corruption cases hanging on his neck and was facing trial in the court.

    “This is a man accused of complicity in murder incidents that happened during his first tenure and it is unfortunate that our system allows a character like that to run for the exalted office of governor.

    “Now with series of allegations coming out on the way funds meant for purchase of arms were diverted to his campaign as revealed by his man, Dr. Tope Aluko and confirmed by Musiliu Obanikoro in his evidence before the court.”

     

  • Ekiti promotes 15,772 workers, pays 2months salaries, Christmas bonus

    Ekiti promotes 15,772 workers, pays 2months salaries, Christmas bonus

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti has given approval for the immediate promotion of 15,772 public servants in the spirit of Christmas, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    A statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Sunday and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said the promotion cuts across workers in the local governments, teaching service and the core civil servants.

    The statement said that the beneficiaries consisted mainly of those whose promotions were due since 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    It said the governor had consequently ordered that letters of promotion be given the affected workers without further delay.

    The statement, however, clarified that the promotion status still remained nominal, as the cash backing for the exercise would be effective only from March 2017.

    It announced that all categories of workers in the state had been paid two months salaries in December, while Christmas bonus would be paid immediately after the Christmas holiday.

    The statement quoted the governor as saying that, though, the state was currently grappling with economic challenges, it did not mean that deserving workers should not be recognised for hard work.

    “We won’t deny our workers their dues and entitlements, economic recession or no economic recession, as leaders of the state, we must be fair to all and that is what we are doing

    “Our administration is resolute in giving the best to all Ekiti people, including those in the public service.

    “This month alone, we have paid two salaries, we are also paying Christmas bonus after the holiday

    “We deliberately spaced the payment of the bonus so that after the Christmas holiday, workers will still have something to fall back on,” it said.(NAN)

  • Why Fayose’s seized assets cannot be released – EFCC

    Why Fayose’s seized assets cannot be released – EFCC

    The  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given reasons why the six houses seized from Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose may never be returned to him.
    The EFCC said the houses – both in Lagos and Abuja – were seized via a court order issued on July 20 this year while it was investigating the governor in relation to various offences including diversion of public funds.
    It said it has, in the cause of investigating Fayose, found that the houses were acquired through third parties, who it has identified and has “proceeded against.”
    The commission said the question of whether or not to vacate the July 20 order for the seizure of the house no longer arises as the new owners of the houses have been identified and a new order has been issued against them.
    The EFCC stated its position in its counter affidavit to a motion by Fayose asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to vacate the July 20 order for temporary forfeiture of his houses.
    The house include: four units of 4 bedroom at Charlets 3, 4, 6 and 9 Plot 100 Tiamiyi Salvage V. I. Lagos.
    Others are: No: 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and Plot 1504 Yedseram Street, Maitama, Abuja.
    The EFCC said, in its counter affidavit, that its investigation has revealed that houses were acquired through companies known as J.J. Technical Service, Spotless Investment Limited and one Mrs. Moji Ladeji.
    It said at the expiration of the July 20 order given by Justice Nmandi Dimgba (of the Federal High Court, Abuja) for 45, it went before another judge of the court – Justice Okon Abang – for a new order of interim forfeiture granted on November 3 this year.
    The EFCC argued that in view of the new interim order of forfeiture, which is to last until the case against the new owners of the properties is concluded, Fayose’s motion now before Justice Dimgba has become an academic exercise.
    “An order was made by this court on the 20th of July 2016 for interim attachment/forfeiture of the properties contained in this application for a period of 45 days.
    “The order has since lapsed and the respondent, upon further investigation, discovered the names through which the properties were acquired and had to proceed against those names.
    “The respondent (EFCC) re-attached the properties and reapplied to this honourable court for fresh order before Honourable Justice Okon Abang, which application was considered and granted.
    “An order of interim or forfeiture is meant to preserve the res (subject matter) pending investigation or conclusion of trial.
    “It is thus of interest to state that in view of the respondent’s exhibit EFCC1 (a copy of the order by Justice Abang), the order now being sought by the applicant has already been overtaking by time and event.
    “The applicant’s (Fayose’s) application is thus, a pure waste of time and an academic exercise, which is based on nothing,” the EFCC said.
    The absence of Fayose’s lead lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) prevented the hearing of the Governor’s application yesterday.
    Following the agreement of lawyers to both sides to return another day for the hearing, Justice Dimgba adjourned to December 19.
  • Fayose condemns attack on Tinubu

    Fayose condemns attack on Tinubu

    From an unlikely quarter came a support for the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the battle for the soul of the ruling party in Nigeria.

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Friday condemned what he called the “conspiracy against Asiwaju Tinubu by those he made that are now being allegedly used against him warning those hoping to reap political benefits in the APC crisis to have a rethink.

    Fayose who belongs to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in condemning the attack on the former Lagos State governor emphasized that “humiliation of Tinubu is as good as humiliation of the Yoruba race.”

    The self-styled “Opposition Leader in Nigeria” declared that he won’t keep silent in the face of attack on a revered Yoruba leader like Tinubu stressing that “Yoruba leaders must be protected.”

    He recalled that similar attacks were visited on Yoruba icons like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Bisi Onabanjo (all of blessed memory), Alhaji Lateef Jakande, among others.

    Fayose said: “Even though I am not a member of APC and I will never be, I have elected to stand in defence of the Yoruba nation once again by saying no to the continuous dishonourable treatment being meted to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, having paid his dues.”

    Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose, said; “if Tinubu is allowed to be embarrassed and disgraced just the way our past leaders were humiliated by these same elements, the Yoruba nation would have been made to suffer for uprightness.”

    The Ekiti helmsman condemned the Tuesday’s alleged sponsored protest against the APC leader at the party’s national secretariat, saying; “it is unfortunate that Tinubu is now being vilified in a party he invested heavily in and his fellow kinsmen that he brought up politically are part of this conspiracy.

    “In their desperation, they have even tried to set him against the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, by insinuating that tried to prevent his (Osinbajo) emergence as President Mohammadu Buhari’s running mate, this is sad!”

    He lamented that “when other tribes protect own, it is becoming historically common among the Yorubas to allow themselves to be used against their leaders just for momentary political gains at the expense of the collective interests of the Yoruba nation.

    “It should be noted that late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was sent to jail by the conspiracy and collaboration of some Yorubas with the external aggressors.”

    Fayose said: “Tinubu is a prominent stakeholder; we should not sit back and watch while those he used his own sweat to make conspired with others to humiliate him.

    “Most importantly, it is my position that irrespective of political affiliation, no leader of the Yoruba nation must be vilified unduly, especially by the same people who humiliated our past leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin, Bola Ige, Bisi Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande and others.

    “To me, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should not be seen just as an APC leader, but acknowledged as a major stakeholder in the Yoruba nation that we must all protect beyond politics.

    ”It should be recalled that these were among the issues that I raised when I visited Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State few months ago on the need to work together beyond party affiliations.

    “Here in Yorubaland, it is said that if a household is at peace, it is because the bastard child of the family is yet to attain the age of maturity and those people that Asiwaju Tinubu made, but are now being used against him should watch it.

    “I therefore condemn this conspiracy against Asiwaju Tinubu and I admonish those that are hoping to make political benefits from it to have a rethink.”

    The governor, who called for greater unity among the Yorubas, added that; “We are first Yorubas before becoming members of political parties, it is my opinion that our leaders must be defended and protected not-minding the personal gains of today.”

  • EFCC opposes Fayose’s request for N5 billion damages

     

    Governor’s accounts remain frozen

     

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged a Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti to reject Governor Ayo Fayose’s request for N5 billion damages over the freezing of his personal bank accounts at Zenith Bank.

     

    The anti-graft agency through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, at the resumed hearing of the suit on Friday urged the court to strike out Fayose’s further affidavit in response to its (EFCC’s) affidavit filed without leave of the court.

     

    The EFCC contended that “it is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that the Applicant (Fayose) is extremely out of time and there is no extension of time to file a further  affidavit.

     

    Fayose had through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate, urged the court to award him N5 billion damages against the EFCC for freezing his two personal bank domiciled at Zenith Bank.

     

    Ozekhome, argued that the Interim Order obtained by the EFCC on June 24 and granted by Justice M.B. Idris upon which the action was based was “fundamentally irredeemably wrong.”

     

    Fayose sued the EFCC and Zenith on the freezing of his personal bank accounts following Account Numbers: 1003126654 and 9013074033 on May 24 seeking an order to de-freeze the accounts.

     

    The EFCC alleged that the accounts were used to launder funds from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) for the purpose of financing Fayose’s campaign in the 2014 governorship poll in Ekiti.

     

    Ozekhome described the EFCC action of freezing or blocking Fayose’s accounts as illegal, irregular, wrongful, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

     

    Fayose’s counsel told the court that he had filed an Originating Summons dated 23rd June and filed the following day having 16-paragraph affidavit attached with Exhibit A, which is a letter from Zenith Bank freezing Fayose’s account.

     

    Ozekhome also told the court he also filed a further and better affidavit on September 21 which he adopted.

     

    The Senior Advocate said the N5 billion sought by the Applicant (Fayose) represent punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged and repressive action of the EFCC.

     

    Citing many authorities, Ozekhome argued that Fayose enjoys immunity conferred on him by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution and that Zenith Bank was not the party prescribed to be sued by Section 34(1) of EFCC Act.

     

    He argued further that the Interim Exparte Order obtained by the EFCC was not time-bound as against decided authorities that such an order is for a short time.

     

    Ozekhome said: “The name of the holder of that account was carefully but deliberately omitted so as to deceive the court leading to the suppression of material evidence that would have guided the court in granting or refusing or refusing the order.”

     

    Responding, EFCC counsel  Oyedepo, opposed Ozekhome’s submissions on grounds that Order 22 Rule 5 of the Federal High Court was violated by the defence.

     

    Oyedepo said coming up with such an application amounted to an ambush as the prosecution was not availed the opportunity of reacting to new issues being raised,.

     

    He said: “Applicant herein has brazenly ignored Order 22 Rule 5 by not filing reply on point of law. My prayer therefore is that your lordship discountenance all the submissions which were read out in printed form but never filed in court.

     

    “I submit that because it is going to be a dangerous precedent if your lordship act or give any legal consideration to new issues raised as it is given to affect our constitutional right to fair hearing.

     

    “No party must be ambushed before the court; majority of the new issues raised under the guise of reply on point of law are such that if the 1st Respondent has been given requisite opportunity would have filed further and better counter affidavit to place on oath such as the issue of suppression of fact before Justice M.B. Idris.”

     

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo adjourned the case to November 7 for further hearing to entertain the reply of the Respondents.

     

    The judge adjourned the case after he refused to grant Oyedepo’s request for a cost of N200,000 against the Applicant (Fayose).

     

     

  • PDP: Fayose, Ikpeazu differ on peace move

    PDP: Fayose, Ikpeazu differ on peace move

    Two governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday disagreed on the peace move that was announced by the two feuding factions of the party led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    The two factions of the party had on Tuesday announced their decision to bury the hatchet and work together in order to enable the party perform its role as a viable opposition platform.

    Both factions disclosed their intention to embark on extensive consultations with their respective loyalists to fashion out a way to cement the new unity after about four months of bitter rivalry.

    Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, who spoke separately on the issue with State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, differed on the necessity of the reconciliation move.

    While Fayose rejected it and stressed that it is only the Court of Appeal that can resolve the party’s leadership crisis, Ikpeazu described it as a step in the right direction.

    According to Fayose, the PDP state governors have not been briefed on the reconciliation move while the cases in court have not been withdrawn.

    He said: “That move, you see, I’m not against anything called resolution within the party but everybody must wait for Court of Appeal to resolve this matter.

    “Matters are in court, nobody has withdrawn any matter and they are resolving. What are you resolving?

    “When matters are in court you, allow court to lay them to rest. The moment this thing doesn’t go with one side, they will tell you were are still in court.

    “But allow the court to take a stand and reconciliation would be made easy. I’m not against anybody reconciling with each other, but when you see that meeting, ask the coverners if the governors were briefed.

    “I was not briefed. I am not the only person in the party, but I think I have a stake.”

    On whether the cases in court cannot be withdrawn during reconciliation, he replied: “Let’s wait till then. But my opinion is the Court of Appeal must resolve this matter.

    “When you resolve the matter, you know that I am wrong and I you are right and reconciliation will be made easy.” He said.

    Abia governor said that the new reconciliation move will be a victory for the party and Nigeria at the end of the day.

    Noting that the long period of the crisis had taken a toll on the party, he said that it had also provided it with new opportunities to become stronger.

    Ikpeazu said: “In every crisis there are downsides because nobody will wish and pray for the crisis. I think also that moment of crisis are also opportunities for strength, renewed vigor and to reinvent our vision.

    “So, ultimately, I think the PDP has the resilience and what it takes to bounce back as a party.”

    On how to secure the support of its founding fathers and others who may have left the party, he said the party will work to bring everybody back on board.

    He went on: “There is no doubt that party politics everywhere involves everybody, whether you are a founding father or a new member. A political party is built around people and everybody has a equal stake.

    “Our interest is Nigeria. Therefore, all strata of people, an opinion I think will be put into consideration because they are equally important.

    “The important thing is Nigeria and the important thing is democracy. Whether you are a BoT member or a party person, it doesn’t really matter. PDP Governors Forum is not a political party,” he added.