The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekiti Govt

  • EFCC can’t probe Ekiti finances – Court

    EFCC can’t probe Ekiti finances – Court

    The Federal High Court sitting in Ado –Ekiti said on Tuesday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cannot look into the books of state governments without a report of indictment from their legislatures.

    The court held that carrying out of such probe by the anti-graft agency violates Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, which prescribes separation of powers.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo also held that banks are not entitled to submit, release or disclose to any person, body or agency, including the EFCC or any other investigating body any document and financial records.

    The judge gave the verdict in a suit filed by Ekiti State Attorney General against the EFCC and the Inspector General of Police.

    Other defendants in the suit are – the Clerk of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Auditor General of Ekiti State, Accountant General of Ekiti State and Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board.

    The rest are – Skye Bank Plc, Access Bank plc, Zenith Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc First Bank Plc and Union Bank Plc.

    The suit was filed following the receipt of letters from the EFCC inviting some government officials to give details of some transactions made by the state government.

    The Commission also sent letters to banks seeking release of Ekiti State government financial records.

    Justice Taiwo held that the EFCC cannot usurp the powers of oversight functions vested in the House of Assembly under Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution to initiate a probe or criminal proceedings against a state official.

    He ruled that only the state legislature is vested with oversight and investigative roles over state finances, appropriation and implementation after receiving a formal report from the Auditor General or the Accountant General as the case may arise.

     

  • Fayemi kicks as Fayose bars him from public office

    Fayemi kicks as Fayose bars him from public office

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has banned his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, from joining the 2018 governorship race, as speculated in many quarters.

    The Fayose administration, yesterday, accepted the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry to bar Fayemi from holding public offices in Ekiti State and other parts of Nigeria for 10 years.

    The panel, which was chaired by former Acting Chief Judge, Justice Silas Oyewole (retd.), submitted its report on December 13, last year, to Fayose and recommended that Fayemi must refund over N2 billion and return 17 vehicles.

    Also recommended for 10-year ban from public office is the former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, who served under Fayemi.

    The recommendation followed the receipt of a White Paper on the report of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry which investigated the handling of the state’s finances during the Fayemi administration between October 2010 and October 2014.

    The White Paper also recommended that the duo should refund various sums of money to the coffers of the state government.

    The State Executive Council (Exco) accepted the recommendations and adopted the White Paper at an emergency meeting yesterday.

    Fayemi is the Minister of Mines and Steel Development while Kolawole is a board member of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

    The ex-governor refused to appear before the panel on account of a lawsuit he filed to the effect that he would not get justice at the panel.

    He claimed that members of the panel are loyalists, associates and card-carrying members of Fayose’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Although Fayemi is yet to declare intent to run for the July 14 governorship election, his foot soldiers are working to draft him into the race.

    His posters with inscription “Happy New Year, JKF Again” appeared in Ado-Ekiti and other major towns last week.

    The recommendation banning Fayemi and Kolawole appears on page 22 of the White Paper.

    It reads: “Government accepts the recommendation to bar Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Vincent Kolawole, from holding public offices in Ekiti State for 10 years.”

    On Page 15 of the White Paper, Fayemi and Kolawole were declared “unfit to hold any public office” for their refusal to appear before the seven-man jury to give evidence on how they managed the state treasury when they were in office.

    It reads: “Both His Excellency, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Vincent Kolawole, are recommended as unfit to hold any public office in the state for their refusal to appear before this Commission of Enquiry, even, after the determination of the case challenging the inauguration of this commission before the Ekiti State High Court.

    “Their disrespect to the constituted authority and the undignified roles they played in the whole contract saga, were obviously against the interest of the state.”

    The White Paper recommended that Fayemi, Kolawole and other members of the erstwhile Exco should account for N2,750,000,000 allegedly allocated for the execution of the contract for the ultramodern market “which was never executed”.

    ‘Governor’s kangaroo panel’s recommendations laughable’

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said the White Paper the state government released yesterday on his alleged probe is a joke taken too far.

    A statement by his Senior Special Assistant (Media),  Olayinka Oyebode, reads: “The attention of the Media Office of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has been drawn to the pre-meditated verdict of the Ekiti State government, as contained in the White Paper submitted by the panel set up by Governor Ayo Fayose to investigate the finances of the state between 2010 and 2014.

    “While we believe it is part of the responsibilities of the state administration to look into the finances of the state at any point in time, we are also of the belief  that such must be done in a very responsible manner devoid of prejudice, witch hunting and a calculated attempt to victimise a citizen.

    “In this particular case, the entire process is discredited right from the beginning, as the only agenda of the panel was to rubbish Dr Kayode Fayemi’s public service record.

    “One is therefore not surprised at the recommendations of the White Paper: It only goes to confirm our initial position that the panel was compromised right from inception and targeted against Dr Fayemi.

    “In his desperation, Governor Fayose chose the crude and ignoble path towards hitting a perceived political foe.

    “In the process, they ignored the rule of law and behaved as if the court does not matter; thus making their actions subjudice to the court.

    “Fayose was, however, misguided into believing that he could pass a death sentence on Dr Fayemi’s public service with the White Paper. This is not only laughable but also ridiculous, as neither Governor Fayose nor his paid agents have the power to bar anyone from political participation.

    “The entire process and the character personae involved are discredited and since it is impossible to build something on nothing, legally speaking, their recommendation is not only null and void, it is ultra vires.

    “We urge the teeming supporters of Dr Fayemi, the good people of Ekiti State and the general public not to be disturbed by the development. It is simply another act of illegality, from an administration that has elevated political debauchery to state craft.

    “It shall not stand. It is nothing but a joke taken too far, perhaps joke of the century.”

     

  • EFCC’s arrest of commissioner, AG lawless, says Ekiti govt

    The Ekiti State government has said the arrest of its Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Toyin Ojo and Accountant General, Yemisi Owolabi, is unconstitutional and a show of executive lawlessness.

    The two state officials were arrested last Thursday by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged misappropriation of state resources.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, the Attorney General and Justice Commissioner Kolapo Kolade said the action of the EFCC breached a subsisting order issued against the commission by a Federal High Court in 2016.

    According to him, the court barred the commission from arresting, detaining or investigating any state official or officials – whether past or present – without any report of indictment by the House of Assembly.

    Kolade said the government had approached the court to challenge the serial arrests of its officials by the EFCC on issues outside the purview of the anti-graft agency.

    The commissioner said the court order was duly served on EFCC on November 27, 2016, adding that it had not been vacated by the court or any other superior court.

    He said: “Following the Interim Order, the EFCC wrote a petition to the chief judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another Federal High Court judge. The case was subsequently transferred to the Akure Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.

    “The Akure Judicial Division of the Federal High Court sat over the case on January 24 and restated the earlier order by the Ado Ekiti Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.

    “The case was adjourned till February 15 for hearing. But the judge referred the matter back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to have a second look at transferring the case to the Akure Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.

    “The order of the Federal High Court has not been vacated till date. In other words, the issue of the arrest and or detention of the Ekiti State government officials is still subjudice.

    “The EFCC is not above the law and the agency is bound to obey lawful orders made by courts, as in this case.

    “The actions of the EFCC are, to say the least, unlawful and show executive lawlessness.”

     

  • EFCC’s arrest of commissioner, AG unlawful – Ekiti

    EFCC’s arrest of commissioner, AG unlawful – Ekiti

    The Ekiti State Government on Monday described the arrest of the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Toyin Ojo and Accountant General, Yemisi Owolabi, as unconstitutional and a show of executive lawlessness.

    The duo were arrested on Thursday by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged misappropriation of state resources.

    Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kolapo Kolade, said the action of the EFCC was in breach of a subsisting order issued against the Commission by a Federal High Court in 2016.

    According to him, the court, in a suit FHC/AD/CS/32/2016 had barred the EFCC from arresting, detaining or investigating any state official or officials whether past or present without any report of indictment by the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

    Kolade said the state government had approached the court at the time to challenge the serial arrest and embarrassment of state officials by the EFCC over issues outside the purview of the anti- graft agency.

    The commissioner said the order of the court was duly served on the EFCC on November 27, 2016, adding that the order has not been vacated by the court or any other superior court in the land.

    Kolade said: “Following the interim order, the EFCC wrote a petition to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another Federal High Court judge and the case was subsequently transferred to the Akure Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.

    “The Akure Judicial  Division of the Federal High Court sat over the case on the 24th day of January, 2017 and re-emphasized the order made earlier by the Ado Ekiti Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.

    “The case was adjourned to 15/02/2017 for hearing. However, the judge referred the case back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to have a second look at the issue of transferring the case to the Akure Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.

    “The order of the Federal High Court has not been vacated till date. In other words, the arrest and or detention of the Ekiti State government officials are subjudice.

    “The EFCC is not above the law and the agency is bound to obey lawful orders made by courts as in this case.

    “The actions of the EFCC are to say the least, unlawful and a raw show of executive lawlessness.”

    He accused the EFCC of acting outside its constitutional mandate by attempting to look into the account books of the state, an action which he said violated Sections 125(5) (6) and 128 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution.

    Kolade said the Sections vested such powers in the state’s House of Assembly only.

     

     

  • No going back on tax on pupils, Ekiti Govt replies Catholic Church

    The battle line appears drawn between the Ekiti State government and the Catholic Church over tax imposed on pupils in schools owned by the Mission.

    The Ayo Fayose-led administration has insisted that the N1,000 and N500 Development Levy imposed on pupils in private and public primary and secondary schools has come to stay.

    The government maintained that mission schools will not be given preference treatment over other schools and that “no other body besides the Federal and state government has power to make policies concerning the operation of both private and public schools in the country.”

    Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, had declared the intent of the church to file a court action to stop the imposition of the levy on pupils in its schools which he said are paying various taxes to government coffers.

    The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Jide Egunjobi, who said this in a statement yesterday, claimed that seven schools owned by the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti State had already complied with the government policy by paying the development levy, dismissing the threat to sue the government by the Catholic Diocese.

    He said:  ”It is wrong for any organisation to claim that it has its own education policy that is different from that of the state and that no law empowers the government to impose education development levy on pupils of mission schools in Ekiti State.

    ”Christ The King Catholic College, Ire; St. Theresa‘s Catholic School, Ikole ;Ave Maria International College, Osun; St. Joseph‘s Nursery/Primary School, Ado; Immaculate Nursery/Primary School, Ilupeju; St. Philip Catholic Nursery/Primary School, Otun and St. Louis Nursery/Primary School, Ikere have all complied with the government directive on the development levy,” he said.

    The commissioner also disclosed that mission schools owned by the Anglican Diocesan, Christ Apostolic Church, Apostolic Faith, Baptist Church, Deeper Life and Muslim Societies have paid the levy.

    “It has become necessary that we correct the impression the press conference addressed by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, on the payment of Education Development Levy in Ekiti State was meant to create.

    “In some states, crèche fee, back duty levy, entertainment or merriment levy and others levies are collected from schools and mission schools are not exempted.

    “Whether or not mission schools should be treated differently does not even arise because other most of the mission schools in the State have paid the development levy. Even the Catholic Diocese that is threatening legal action, seven of its schools have paid.”

  • Ekiti govt: PDP responsible for delay in salary

    Ekiti govt: PDP responsible for delay in salary

    The Ekiti State government has blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Governor-elect Ayodele Fayose for the delay in the payment of workers’August salary.

    The government said the delay was as a result of the refusal of banks to grant it overdraft facility due to the panic created by the governor-elect.

    It also faulted Fayose’s transition committee over the way Governor Kayode Fayemi has managed the state.

    The chair of the transition committee, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, accused the  government of mismanaging the state’s finances.  The state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also accused the governor of illegally moving funds.

    The government described the criticisms as “highly irresponsible and infantile in nature”.

    The  government, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said no responsible party or transition committee would make such malicious allegations against the administration, especially when such claims are unfounded.

    The statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said the Fayemi administration has run the affairs of the state in the last four years with utmost regard for public accountability and fiscal responsibility laws.

    “Having built a reputation of service and integrity over the years, nothing- not even a controversial loss in an election – would make us go back on this path of honour. Neither are we going to succumb to cheap and infantile blackmail,” the statement added.

    The state government challenged the PDP to mention the banks where the alleged illegal movement of funds took place and explain where the so called 3,000 workers were recruited illegally. It added that the establishment of LCDAs went through a due  process that culminated in the law passed by the state Assembly establishing the 19 new LCDAs, adding that the incoming government could annul the new councils by simply going through the lay down procedure if it so desired.

    “If Mr Fayose and his team believe that indeed many of these allegations have any iota of truth in them, one would have expected that a team that espouses a commitment to cooperation and reconciliation would have made an effort to seek further clarification on the many destructive allegations before rushing to the press, if this was not a calculated agenda to malign and manipulate public opinion.”

    The government said the PDP resorted to blackmailing the Fayemi administration after it alerted the public and the banking authorities in the country of the subterranean moves by Fayose to have unauthorised dealings with banks that have relationships with the state government.

    The statement reads: “Immediately we foiled that move by notifying relevant authorities of plans by the governor-elect to have under-the-table dealings with the banks under the guise of checking financial details, the PDP resorted to cheap blackmail. But we are undeterred.

    “For a party that is set to form government in a matter of weeks to seek to discredit the incumbent administration, through sheer falsehood and blackmail is simply irresponsible and childish.

    “PDP should mention the banks where the alleged illegal movement of funds took place and also where the so- called 3,000 workers were recruited illegally. Equally the establishment of LCDAs went through a process that started with the Justice Ajakaiye’s committee and culminated in the law passed by the Legislature establishing the 19 new LCDAs. If the incoming Government so desires let it go through due process and get the assembly to annul the process that established the LCDAs.”

  • Ekiti Govt, Council happy at lifting of ban on Ado-Ekiti Stadium

    The Ekiti Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Kayode Olaosebikan has expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) over its decision to lift the ban placed on the Ekiti State Stadium.

    Fountain FC of Ekiti and Prime of Osogbo had clashed during a match on the facility.

    Olaosebikan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti that the state government was shocked at the level of misconduct displayed by players of Fountain and Prime that led to the ban.

    The commissioner said the ministry and Ekiti State Sports Council would ensure that such `ugly incident’ did not re-occur. Olaosebikan enjoined security operatives in the state to always secure the stadium each time matches were to be held in the stadium.

    The commissioner thanked the NFA for considering the interest of youths in Ekiti by lifting the ban.

    Also reacting, the General Manager, Ekiti Sports Council, Olukayode Adewunmi, expressed dismay at the circumstance that led to ban. He said it was regrettable that the ban stopped the state from hosting National league matches, which he said was unfair to youths of Ekiti.

    Adewunmi, however, expressed his delight at the decision of NFA to lift the ban, promising that henceforth, maximum security regulations would be adopted to avert future re-occurrence.