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Tag: Ekiti Assembly

  • Ekiti Assembly threatens to arrest Fayemi

    Ekiti Assembly threatens to arrest Fayemi

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly has threatened to arrest  the Minister of Mines and Steel Development Kayode Fayemi.

    This is coming barely 24 hours after the former governor sued one of its members, Samuel Omotoso, for libel.

    The Assembly at a plenary yesterday gave Fayemi till February 7 to appear before it to clear himself of allegations of corruption during his tenure between October 2010 and October 2014.

    This will be the third time the lawmakers would invite Fayemi to explain alleged mismanagement of N850 million Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds.

    Fayemi, on Wednesday, filed a N3 billion libel suit against Omotoso and Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication and New Media Lere Olayinka at an Abuja High Court for offensive statements made against him in a programme on Ekiti State Television on July 6, last year.

    Omotoso, who is Chairman, Committee on Information and representative of Oye 1 (Fayemi’s constituency), described the libel suit as a “diversionary tactic and playing to the gallery” by the former governor.

    Speaking after the sitting, the lawmaker said the House might invoke the constitution to compel Fayemi’s appearance, including issuing a warrant of arrest.

    He said: “The House sat yesterday and passed a resolution inviting Dr. John Kayode Fayemi for the third time.

    “We expect him to turn up on Tuesday to explain himself and his roles on various allegations of corruption against him while he was governor.

    “He has to explain himself why he had to breed poverty and why he has to abridge the rights of pupils.

    “If he fails to turn up, we will not hesitate to invoke the constitution under Section 129:1 D which empowers us to issue a warrant of arrest on him and get him arrested

    “We sent the first invitation on March, 8 last year. Subsequently, we gave him another invitation and he didn’t turn up.

    “He didn’t honour it and we have no choice than to petition him.”

  • Ekiti Assembly passes N93b budget

    Ekiti Assembly passes N93b budget

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday passed the N93.4billion 2017 Appropriation estimate presented two weeks ago by Governor Ayo Fayose.
    The Appropriation Bill is tagged: “Budget of Consolidation for Higher Heights”.
    In passing the 2017 Appropriation Bill, the House considered the report of its Finance and Appropriation Committee.
    During the Second Reading, members spoke on the policy thrusts as highlighted in the details of the estimate.
    It was committed into the Committee of the Whole House, scrutinised page-by-page by the members and later passed into law.
    Speaker Kola Oluwawole said the budget had sensitively taken care of all areas that the administration would look into in 2017.
    The Speaker adjourned sitting till February 20 next year.

  • Fayose presents N93b budget to Ekiti Assembly

    Fayose presents N93b budget to Ekiti Assembly

    •Wears camouflage and fez cap

    There was drama yesterday at the Ekiti State House of Assembly when Governor Ayo Fayose presented the 2017 Appropriation Bill.
    The governor wore a black T-shirt, a camouflage fez cap and a camouflage pair of trousers.
    Fayose said he dressed that way because “we are in serious wartime in Nigeria. We are at war in Nigeria”.
    After concluding the abridged budget speech, he described himself as “the Speaker of the Assembly” and the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, is his “representative”.
    Fayose said: “I am the Speaker of this Assembly. Oluwawole is representing me here.
    “I am the Speaker, he is the Acting Speaker therefore, if I say this budget will be passed by me, it will be passed.”
    The governor lampooned the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for allegedly inflicting hardship on Nigerians.
    He claimed that the November allocation for Ekiti has not been given any cash backing.
    Fayose condemned the Federal Government for the alleged crackdown on Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
    The “Budget of Consolidation” was N93, 456, 399, 143.40, which was aimed at completing ongoing projects.
    He alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government plans to put Wike under house arrest by midnight Thursday ahead of Saturday’s National and State Assembly rerun.
    Fayose promised that the Ado Ekiti flyover and the new Erekesan Market projects will be delivered December next year.
    He said the new Governor’s Office, new High Court complex and dual carriage ways in Emure, Ise and the ones to be started in Ilawe, Ijero and the third phase in Ikere will also be delivered next October.
    The governor pledged that there will be massive renovation of primary schools while attention will be paid to rural electrification.
    Oluwawole and other lawmakers promised to give the budget speedy consideration.

  • Fayemi: APC lambasts Ekiti Assembly over petition

    Fayemi: APC lambasts Ekiti Assembly over petition

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has condemned members of the House of Assembly for their petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing former Governor Kayode Fayemi of N40 billion fraud.

    The party described the petition as “Governor Ayo Fayose’s attempt to divert attention from his probe by the EFCC on the alleged use of arms cash to fund his 2014 governorship campaign and revelations from witnesses in the courts.’’

    The lawmakers, last Thursday, submitted a petition to the EFCC, alleging that Fayose misappropriated N40 billion in projects execution during his four-year tenure as governor.

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC maintained that the lawmakers lack the constitutional powers to act as petitioners in a matter that concerns only the executive.

    Olatunbosun described the lawmakers as “slave boys of a reckless and lawless governor wondering why it took more than two years before Fayose realised that the House of Assembly was the vehicle through which he could transmit a petition to the EFCC.

    He said: “These lawmakers are  pitiable sights on television speaking to reporters on an issue they have no competence and you can see their mediocrity as a bunch of slave boys to a reckless, lawless governor desperately seeking to divert the attention of Nigerians from the revelations in court over his seamless infractions on the law to stay in power.

    “Besides not having constitutional powers to act as petitioners in a matter that concerns only the executive, majority of the members do not possess educational qualifications that can prepare them for the duties they were elected to perform, hence their directionless conduct and acting as tools of the governor while they suffer in penury.

    “We don’t know when the House of Assembly conducted their investigation to arrive at this petition, as what they have in the petition are the same allegations that Fayose has been bandying around to deceive workers.

    “This is besides the fact that they have the constitutional power to conduct investigation into any allegation and ask the governor to set up administrative panel to investigate the allegations, but because they lack capacity to do the job they were elected to do.

    “They are prepared to line the streets to protect the interest of the governor as they did when they occupied Ado-Ekiti streets over EFCC investigation into Fayose’s allies’ involvement in alleged fraud.”

  • Ekiti Assembly suspends lawmaker for 180 days

    Ekiti Assembly suspends lawmaker for 180 days

    THE crisis rocking Ekiti State House of Assembly took another dimension yesterday as its lawmakers suspended former Information Committee Chair Gboyega Aribisogan for 180 legislative days.

    According to the lawmakers, Aribisogan’s action would“henceforth determine further actions to be taken against him.”

    The assembly members adopted a report by a seven-man investigative panel chaired by member representing Ido/Osi Constituency 2, Samuel Jeje, at a plenary presided over by Speaker Kola Oluwawole.

    The report indicted Aribisogan, who represents Ikole Constituency 1.

    Throughout the period of the suspension, the assembly bar Aribisogan from holding any position and “must not be seen in and around the premises within one kilometre radius of the Assembly complex”.

    He is also not entitle to the privileges and benefits attached to his office throughout the time the suspension will last.

    Aribisogan’s office will remain sealed throughout the period and he must submit all properties of the House of Assembly to the Clerk.

    The panel had investigated Aribisogan on allegations bordering on “gross misconduct and acts capable of destabilising the House”.

    Other members of the panel are Sina Animasaun (Ekiti West 2), Samuel Omotoso (Oye 1), Sunday Akinniyi (Ikere 2), Dele Fajemilehin (Gbonyin), Cecelia Dada (Ilejemeje) and Fasanmi Temitope (Ado 2).

    Presenting the panel’s report to the House, Chairman of the Ethics Committee Ojo Fajana (Ekiti East 1) claimed that evidence submitted found Aribisogan guilty of the offence.

    The lawmaker, who replaced Aribisogan as Information Committee chair, Omotoso, at a news conference after the plenary, defended the assembly.

     He accused the suspended legislator of involving himself in acts capable of having “unholy alliance and relationship with those who have constituted themselves as enemies of the government and presented false information for pecuniary gains, thereby casting aspersion on the House”.

    He claimed that Adewumi confirmed both in writing and orally that Aribisogan confessed to him at a popular hotel in Ado-Ekiti on the evening of Friday, September 30, that he (Aribisogan) met with some elements that were against the government in Lagos on Saturday, September 24, ”in a manner that has rubbished the integrity and confidence that the Ekiti people have in the State House of Assembly”.

    Omotoso said: “Hon. Segun Adewumi also said that truly,   Aribisogan visited Lagos to connive with opposition elements in an attempt to destabilise Ekiti State.

    “Instead of showing remorse and apologising for his embarrassing actions despite all overwhelming evidences, Hon. Aribisogan persisted in his shallow denials.”

    Omotosho said the punishment was to serve as a deterrent to anyone who might be nursing same act to desist from it and also show that “we want to live above board in our ways. Aribisogan remains our brother and we are quick to forgive if he shows remorse and genuineness to change.”

    Addressing a news conference at another location in Ado-Ekiti, Aribisogan said he was not surprised by the outcome of the panel and his suspension by his colleagues, which he traced to “an unseen hand from outside”.

    The embattled lawmaker wondered why the Deputy Speaker, Olusegun Adewumi (Ekiti West 1), with whom he was accused of holding secret meetings with Senator Buruji Kashamu, presidential aide Babafemi Ojudu and Lagos lawyer Femi Falana, was left out of the probe and punishment.

    Aribisogan alleged that the panel compromised its position by using his co-accused person, the deputy speaker as a prosecution witness against him in a bid to nail him at all cost to arrive at a predetermined conclusion.

    Aribisogan said: “I saw the entire process as a scam and travesty of justice; they didn’t have enough evidence to nail me but an unseen hand was behind all these shenanigans to arrive at a predetermined conclusion.

    “The committee has compromised its position because what transpired at the panel was not what was in their report. Everything was originated by one person and executed by one person.

    “I have enough reasons to believe that it is a plot to pull me down and I am not surprised by the outcome because I know the judgment had been written well ahead of time. You claim that I went to Buruji with two other colleagues, why was I the only person singled out?

    “The Deputy Speaker with whom I was accused of going to Lagos to hold secret meetings with some people was left out and they used him as a prosecution witness against me. Somebody that I never went anywhere with being coerced to testify against me?

    “Suddenly, the Deputy Speaker who they also alleged travelled to Lagos with me has been exonerated. There is more to it to nail me and destabilize my political constituency…

    “I know that God will vindicate me and I know that the truth will prevail at the end.”

  • Ekiti Assembly member-elect demands swearing-in

    Ekiti Assembly member-elect demands swearing-in

    •Lawmaker demands to be sworn in
    EKITI State House of Assembly member-elect Toyin Obayemi (Ado Ekiti 1) has called on Governor Ayo Fayose to prevail on the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, to obey court order and swear him.

    Obayemi, in a letter to the governor made available to reporters in Ado Ekiti yesterday, regretted that members of his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been obstructinghis inauguration.

    The Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, on July 4, removed Musa Arogundade, who represents the constituency, and ordered Obayemi sworn in, having found Obayemi to be the valid candidate for the April 11, 2015, House of Assembly election.

    Obayemi, in the letter copied to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, and eminent lawyer Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), said the refusal of the PDP-dominated Assembly to admit him as a member after a court order, “is portraying the party in bad light”.

    According to him, he remained a committed financial member of the party after contesting the seat in 2011, and losing to an opposition candidate.

    Obayemi said: “… it is an irony of fate that my party (PDP) today constitutes a stumbling block to my progress since the judgment was delivered to the Speaker through the Clerk.

    “Permit me with every sense of respect to say that the Speaker should know that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

    “I was taken aback when the only reason given by the Speaker for his refusal to obey the court judgment and admit me into the House officially was that the case is still in the appeal level. I want to say that till date, I am yet to receive a letter informing me of such position.

    “… we must not forget that this is a case of PDP versus PDP and the opposition will not stop laughing at us as a result of the stand of the Speaker refusing to obey court judgment.

    “… Sir, I remain a committed and a financial member of the party, and as the leader of the party here in Ekiti, I want to urge you to look at this case from the point of view that all members of the party are one and equal before you, and I appeal to you to use your good offices to let the world know that PDP is not a lawless party.

    “Finally Sir, I appeal to you, therefore, to please advise the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, to do the needful in accordance with the court judgment of July 4, 2016, and perform my swearing-in ceremony.”

     

     

     

  • Ekiti Assembly passes anti-grazing bill into law

    EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose’s stance against herdsmen received a legislative seal yesterday as the Ekiti State House of Assembly passed a bill criminalising open grazing.

    The bill, which was passed after the Assembly adopted the report of Joint Committees on Agriculture and Environment by its chairman, Mr. Ayodele Fajemilehin, after a public hearing, is now awaiting the governor’s assent.

    If eventually assented to, it will now become a crime for any cattle, sheep and goat to graze on undesignated land for ranches in Ekiti.

    According to the bill tagged,” Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti, 2016″, any offender upon conviction shall be sentenced to six months in prison without an option of fine..

    The Speaker of the House, Kola Oluwawole, who presided over plenary, said the bill would now reduce the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

    Other provisions of the law included, “The governor shall by an order designates land in each of 16 local government areas in the state in respect of which cattle or ruminants may be permitted to graze.

    “ No person shall cause or permit any cow, oxen, sheep as well as goat under his or her control to graze on any land in which the governor has not designated as ranches” among others.

    The law forbids movement of cattle by herdsmen and owners of goat in the Ekiti after 6 p.m.

    “No cattle or other ruminants shall by any means move in the night. Movement shall be between 7am and 6pm”, a section of the bill reads.

    The Assembly observed a minute silence for the four World Bank officials who lost their lives when their boat capsized at Egbe Dam in Gbonyin Local Government Area of the state.

    The lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 2, Gboyega Aribisogan, had earlier drawn the attention of House to the mishap, saying the tragedy as thrown the state into mourning.

  • Ekiti Assembly fails to swear in lawmaker-elect

    Ekiti Assembly fails to swear in lawmaker-elect

    There was drama at the Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday as a lawmaker-elect, Toyin Obayemi, stormed the complex with his supporters, demanding to be inaugurated as the member representing Ado Constituency 1 in line with court judgment.

    Armed with the Certificate of Return (CoR) issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obayemi, on arrival at about 10.30 am, headed for the office of the Clerk, Tola Esan, to submit a copy of the judgment of a Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti.

    The court had ordered that Obayemi be sworn in.

    But Speaker Kola Oluwawole refused to perform the swearing-in as Assembly security officers prevented the legislator-elect from gaining access to the hallowed chambers, where a plenary was being held.

    As tension mounted sequel to Obayemi’s insistence on enforcing his fundamental human rights, four lawmakers emerged from the hallowed chambers and ordered him to leave the premises.

    The Assembly security personnel, acting on the order of the lawmakers, ordered Obayemi to leave the premises after which the two main entrances leading to the complex was shut by riot policemen.

    The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on July 4, sacked the former occupant of the seat, Musa Arogundade, from office and withdrew the CoR in his possession.

    It declared Obayemi winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary held on November 29, 2014.

    The court also ordered Arogundade to refund all salaries, allowances and emoluments he had received since inauguration on June 5, 2015.

    The court ruled that PDP ran foul of the law to have fielded Arogundade after disqualifying the winner of the primary, Odunayo Talabi, for allegedly presenting fake certificates for nomination.

    The court held that Obayemi, who was second in the primary, was supposed to be nominated by the PDP.

    Speaking with reporters on the drama, Obayemi maintained that the authorities of the Assembly must comply with the court order, saying the Speaker and other legislators preventing his inauguration have committed contempt of court.

    Obayemi called on Governor Ayo Fayose to prevail on the Assembly to comply with the rule of law, saying the lawmakers are aiding Arogundade to continue to parade himself as a lawmaker having been sacked by a valid court order.

    He said: “I ought to have submitted the Certificate of Return and the judgement before now, but I learnt the House was in recess . But I thank God that the Clerk had collected my letter and other documents, though he said only the Speaker can act on them.

    “The judgement delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo was very clear. He pronounced me the candidate and ordered the Speaker to swear me in immediately. What the House is doing is tantamount to abuse of position and the Speaker is committing contempt of court.  It seems they don’t know the implications of their actions.

    “The Federal Government must caution the policemen. How can they be harassing me despite flaunting the necessary documents, including a court judgement? Let me put it on record that Musa Arogundade may be preparing himself for jail if he is still parading himself as the occupant of that seat.

    “If a member of the same political party that is desperately looking for reconciliation could be treated this way, I can’t imagine what would have happened to me if I am a member of the APC.”

    But a group, Ado Ekiti Consultative Forum, has called on the Speaker to swear Obayemi  in as a member of the Assembly.

    Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Ojo Felix, the group said: “Failure to do so, we will mobilise Ado Ekiti indigenes to occupy the Assembly and enforce the rights of one of their own. The lawmakers shouldn’t cause chaos in Ekiti,” it warned.

     

  • Fayemi shuns Ekiti Assembly summons

    Fayemi shuns Ekiti Assembly summons

    •Refers House to handover notes 

    Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday failed to appear before the House of Assembly which summoned him two weeks ago to explain how Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds were spent during his tenure.

    The lawmakers accused the Fayemi administration of diverting N852.9 million UBEC funds an allegation the ex-governor vehemently denied.

    Fayemi, who is Minister of Solid Minerals Development, wrote the lawmakers explaining that he could not appear as requested by the Assembly due to what he called “prior scheduled state engagements”.

    Speaker Kola Oluwawole, who spoke with reporters after a special sitting held in honour of a deceased member of the Third Assembly, Ajewole Ashaolu, disclosed that Fayemi’s letter has been referred to the Committees on Public Accounts and Finance and Appropriation.

    Oluwawole had earlier read Fayemi’s letter in response to the House resolution mandating him to appear and make clarifications on UBEC funds shortly before the special session held in honour of the late Ashaolu.

    Fayemi in a letter dated March 21 signed by his Personal Assistant, Tolu Ibitola, and addressed to the Clerk of the House, Tola Esan, said all matters relating to his stewardship are contained in his handover note.

    The letters reads: “We acknowledge receipt of your letter being an advisory on the referenced resolution of the Ekiti State House of Assembly dated March 10.

    “Regrettably, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, is unable to honour the House’s invitation as contained in the resolution due to prior scheduled state engagements.

    “The minister has, however, asked that I draw your attention to the fact that all matters relating to his stewardship of public office in his previous role as the Governor of Ekiti State, between October 16, 2010 and October 15, 2014, are well documented in his handover notes, which was duly submitted to the Government of Ekiti State  at the expiration of his tenure on October 15, 2014 as statutorily required.

    “A copy of the said report was also shared with the House for the record.

    “The minister will be pleased to respond to specific clarifications the House may wish to make further to your diligent examination of the handover notes.

    “May we use this opportunity to convey the assurances of the minister’s highest regards.”

    Oluwawole said: ”We expected him to appear today, but he did not show up. He, instead, responded through a letter, saying that he wouldn’t be able to come owing to certain official duties.

    “He said his stewardship was detailed in the handing over note he presented to Governor Ayo Fayose and that the issue of the SUBEB fund was also in it.

     

  • Lawyer: DSS erred on Ekiti Assembly

    Lawyer and rights activist Mike Ozekhome yesterday condemned the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly by the Department of State Services (DSS), saying it was an affront on democracy.

    He demanded the release of a lawmaker, Afolabi Akanni (Efon) or his arraignment in court.

    Ozekhome said in a statement that the invasion was curious and condemnable, adding that the hallowed chamber had been desecrated.

    He said: “The action of the DSS in invading the Ekiti State House of Assembly and taking away a lawmaker is condemnable and undemocratic.

    “A House of Assembly is hallowed and sacred and should never be desecrated on any account.

    “The DSS is established primarily for security matters and for intelligence gathering within Nigeria, for the protection of senior government officials. It is neither the police nor the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “The invasion is more curious and detestable, happening as it did, in Ekiti State where Governor Ayodele Fayose has been a well known critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, his government and his All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The impression must not be given that the present government, which rode to power on the crest of popular opposition and critical dissent, is muzzling the opposition or brow beating and intimidating those who hold different opinions.

    “The invasion of a House of Assembly is a very serious thing which goes against democratic practice and the rule of law.

    “Our constitutional democracy envisages robust opposition because power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

    “Nigeria’s freedoms, liberties and rights should be allowed to flourish and should not be abridged or decimated on the altar of political expediency.

    “Power itself is ephemeral. Its wielders should always act with discretion, respect for the constitution and extant laws.”