The Nation Newspaper

Tag: impeachment

  • Olanusi: Impeachment process may begin this week

    Olanusi: Impeachment process may begin this week

    Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly may begin impeachment process against the Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Sources said the House  leadership are ensuring that the process begins early.

    The Assembly is made up of 26 members, comprising 23 PDP lawmakers and two APC members.

    Odigbo’s seat occupied by the former Speaker, the late Samuel Adesina, is still vacant.

    It was gathered that the impeachment proceedings may begin this week. PDP members have been meeting on the process.

    A source said besides his defection, there are no allegations that could be made against Olanusi.

    But an APC lawmaker, Gbenga Edema, said the leadership of the APC met and made resolutions on the matter, saying “the matter should be considered as speculation for now”.

    He said none of the two APC members received any notice for the impeachment process against the deputy governor.

    According to him, “we have not been informed of any impeachment process. We are just two in the House and we consider all we are hearing as speculation for now.”

    He added: “When we get the notice of impeachment and the deputy governor is served with the impeachment notice, the two of us will know the next line of action.”

    Many interest groups, including youths from the 18 local governments have called for Olanusi’s resignation.

    The groups had urged the House of Assembly to impeach Olanusi, if he failed to resign.

    Olanusi, who still lay claim to his election as the deputy governor, insisted that he was duly elected the same way Mimiko was elected.

    He alleged that his allowances and those of his aides were withheld by the government, and instituted a case at the Federal High Court, Akure.

    The light in his official apartment at Alagbaka Government House has been reportedly disconnected.

     

  • Again, court re‎fuses to stop impeachment move against Fayose

    Again, court re‎fuses to stop impeachment move against Fayose

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja Thursday rejected an oral application by lawyer to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State for an order stopping the on-going move to impeach the governor.

    Fayose’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN) had shortly before the end of proceedings in the case seeking to stop the on-going impeachment move, applied orally for an order directing parties to maintain status quo ante bellum “to stop things from degenerating further.”

    Justice Mohammed, in a ruling, rejected Raji’s prayer and upheld the argument by Terence Vembe, lawyer to Ekiti State Speaker, Adewale Omirin, to the effect that granting such prayer will amount to the court amending its earlier ruling that the defendants were still within time show cause, as earlier ordered by the court.

    The judge had, last Wednesday, refused Fayose’s ex-parte prayers for interim injunctions restraining Omirin and other defendants in the case from proceeding with the impeachment move.

    Instead, Justice Mohammed ordered the defendants to show cause why the orders of interim injunction sought by the plaintiffs should not be granted.

    Plaintiffs in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/302/2015 include Olugbemi Joseph Dele (who claimed to be Speaker of the State Assembly), Ekiti State House of Assembly, Fayose and his deputy, Olusola Kolapo.

    Listed as defendants are Omirin, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Chief Judge, Ekiti State.

    At the commencement of proceedings Thursday, Raji urged the court to grant the order of interim injunction on the ground that none of the defendants complied with the court’s order of April 8 directing them to show cause.

    “None of the defendants has filed any paper and already a life has been lost on the account of trying to carry out the illegal act (impeachment). To save more life, I urge my Lord to grant the reliefs 5, 6, 7 and 8 on our motion paper.”

    Vembe objected and told the court that his client were contesting the mode of service of the court processes on him, which he said, was done through a newspaper publication on April 11 which was a public holiday.

    He further faulted the service effected by the plaintiffs via a publication in the Nigerian Tribune newspaper on April 11 on the ground that movements were restricted on that day owing to the governorship and House of Assembly elections held nationwide.

    In a brief ruling, Justice Mohammed upheld Raji’s argument that Vembe‎ could not canvass any argument on the issue of service orally without putting it in writing as required under the court’s rules.

    Vembe proceeded to argue that his client was still within time to obey the court’s order directing him and other defendants to show cause.

    Although Raji objected to Vembe’s further argument that his client was still within time, Justice Mohammed, in yet another brief ruling, upheld Vembe’s argument.

    The judge noted that the publication ought not to have been done on a public holiday. He held that the three days within which the defendants were required to comply with the court’s order began to run on Tuesday, April 14 and will end on Friday‎, April 17.

    “As of today, the 1st defendant is still within time as provided by Order 36 Rule 13 of the Federal High Court Rules,” the judge said.

    Further hearing in the case has been fixed for April 29.

    The plaintiffs are, in the substantive suit, seeking nine prayers among which is “an order setting aside the purported notice of impeachment and all steps taken by the 1st defendant (Omirin) with other errant members of the 2nd plaintiff (Ekiti State House of Assembly) in relation to the purported issuance and service of the said notice of impeachment for the purpose of commencing and concluding the impeachment proceedings against Peter Ayodele Fayose and Dr. Olusola Kolapo, except and until there is absolute compliance with provisions of section 36(1) and section 188(1), (2), (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

    Other prayers being sought by the plaintiffs include, “An order prohibiting the 1st defendant (Omirin) and other errant members of the 2nd plaintiff (Ekiti State House of Assembly) from further taking any step, or engaging in unlawful activities relating to the impeachment of Peter Ayodele Fayose and Dr. Olusola Kolapo, except and until there is absolute compliance with provisions of section 36(1) and section 188(1), (2), (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    “An order prohibiting the Chief Judge of Ekiti State from taking any step or action in relation to the request of the 1st defendant (Omirin) for the purpose of appointing a panel of seven persons to investigate and purported allegations of gros misconduct against Peter Ayodele Fayose and Dr. Olusola Kolapo, except and until there is absolute compliance with provisions of section 36(1) and section 188(1), (2), (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).‎”

     

  • Impeachment notice: farce and politics in Ekiti

    Impeachment notice: farce and politics in Ekiti

    In the continuing saga of Governor Ayo Fayose’s impeachment, it is hard to tell who enjoys the most support: the governor, House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin, or the constitution. Mr Fayose was last week served impeachment notice by 19 members of the House of Assembly led by Dr Omirin. The governor has done his best to evade direct service, and has instead tried to mobilise public sympathy. He argues that the 19 lawmakers, all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were attempting to use the tool of impeachment to secure what they lost through the ballot box.

    Does the governor have the people’s support? There is no doubt that his supporters, most of whom have been publicly identified as trade union members, artisans, and office holders, are very vocal and troublesome and have loudly proclaimed their support for the governor and bitterness against the 19 lawmakers and the APC. These supporters have taken to the street and are constantly in the news, presenting a facade of huge and undeniable support for the paranoid Mr Fayose. There is, however, no doubt that over the months, as the governor displayed greater imbecility, the angry crowd of supporters, though still vociferous and implacable, had thinned out.

    Dr Omirin also commands a huge and perhaps discrete following, first from a majority of lawmakers, and second from those pained by the precipitous decline of public morals and standards in this state of great learning. The Speaker’s educated supporters select and calibrate their responses, preferring the rule of law and due process. They naturally face the dilemma of seeming to be either docile in the face of Mr Fayose’s monstrous behaviour, or are in reality not too bothered whichever way the pendulum would swing.

    The third force in the saga is of course the constitution, which at the moment seems pristinely alone and isolated. No matter what support both Mr Fayose and Dr Omirin get from their partisans, the constitution is at the heart of the quarrel and controversy, and will probably be the deciding factor. Who between the governor and the Speaker has acted constitutionally? And what does the constitution say about the impeachment? In the view of Femi Falana, a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the impeachment notice served by the 19 lawmakers is in order and has precedence. The notice, anchored on eight constitutional breaches against the governor, appeared to have been inspired by the continuing buffoonery of the governor, including dealing with seven lawmakers as the legal and properly constituted House of Assembly under the leadership of the usurper, Dele Olugbemi.

    It does not, however, appear that too many people are paying attention to what the constitution says. Politics predominates, and decisions and actions are determined by whom the partisans support. While Ekiti and Nigerians wait to see whether the Chief Judge would set up an investigative panel as directed by the House of Assembly under Speaker Omirin, some lawyers cite a judgement of the Supreme Court, referenced in the case of the impeachment of former Oyo State governor, Rashidi Ladoja, indicating that impeachment notice could not be valid except it proceeded from a sitting in the legislative chamber. But what if the lawmakers were barred from the legislative chamber by violent groups, such as clearly happened in Ekiti last week?

    It is not certain how the impeachment matter would be resolved. But if the farcical performance of Mr Olugbemi, leader of the Group of Seven who pretends to be the Speaker, is anything to go by, Ekiti is in trouble. Mr Olugbemi speaks very bad English, could hardly read his own prepared statement disputing Dr Omirin’s impeachment notice, his brief remarks were redolent with so many shibboleths, and he obviously knew little law and legislative practices. It was thus puzzling to see the governor embrace such appalling farce rather than concoct his own farce for which he is eminently gifted.

  • Impeachment: Ekiti Assembly writes chief Judge

    Impeachment: Ekiti Assembly writes chief Judge

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has written to the State Chief Judge‎. Mr. Justice Ayodeji Daramola, asking him to set up a panel to investigate allegations raised in the impeachment notice to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    At a special sitting held at M‎ary Hills Boys High School, Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday, the lawmakers said they relied on Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution as amended  which empowers the Assembly to regulate their sittings, including sitting in a public building within the state capital if conditions exist in the hallowed chamber that endanger members’ lives.

    Majority Leader, Churchill Adedipe, Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency One, explained that the sitting ought to have taken place in the hallowed chamber on April 7, 2015‎ but members were waylaid by thugs who mounted roadblock and threatening their lives with dangerous weapons, thereby making them to abandon going to the Assembly.

    Relying on Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Adedipe moved the motion empowering the Chief Judge to set up the panel.

    His motion was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, representing Ido/Osi Constituency Two.

    After debates, the lawmakers in a unanimous vote supported the motion‎ directing the chief judge to set up the panel.

    The House adjourned to the next legislative day.

     

     

  • Resort to Judiciary you assaulted is laughable, APC tells Fayose

    Resort to Judiciary you assaulted is laughable, APC tells Fayose

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has reacted to the ruling of the Federal High Court rejecting Governor Ayodele Fayose’s request to stop the House of Assembly from going ahead with the impeachment proceedings against him, saying it is laughable that the governor who once desecrated the judiciary by leading thugs to beat up judges and tear court records in the Chief Judge’s office is now approaching the same institution to protect him from his illegal acts.

    It also expressed surprise that the governor could approach a Federal High Court in Abuja for protection over a matter that happened in Ekiti after lampooning APC for approaching same court in Jos Division while seeking protection from the governor’s harassment and attacks.

    It added that the governor contradicted himself by challenging the legality of his impeachment proceedings when he had earlier claimed that he was not aware of any impeachment move by the lawmakers.

    A statement by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun said the governor was confused on how to handle his cases in court, having desecrated Ekiti State judiciary and instigating the state judiciary workers to refuse resumption of duties.

    “Fayose didn’t allow Ekiti courts to function and he declared the State Chairman of the APC, Chief Olajide Awe, wanted over a phantom murder charge, Chief Awe obtained an injunction against arrest from a Federal High Court in Jos, which the governor referred to as a ‘black market injunction’. He has now ran to Abuja to get an injunction to restrain the 19 lawmakers from impeaching him but the court in its wisdom has turned this request down,” the APC spokesman noted.

    He expressed delight at the court ruling, saying the gesture was a warning to the governor and his like that the rule of law had come to stay in Nigeria.

    “Bye bye to impunity and flagrant trampling on the nation’s constitution. The governor should get set for his impeachment and we advise him to assemble his legal representatives. The Assembly is prepared to give him a fair hearing in the matter and he should be assured that he has nothing to fear.

    “Mr. Fayose must respond to the impeachment notice from the House of Assembly and stop looking for an easy way out,” the Olatubosun added, stressing that the emergence of General Buhari as the President-elect marked the end of impunity in the country.

  • Fayose, Deputy, lose bid to stop impeachment

    Fayose, Deputy, lose bid to stop impeachment

    Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and his Deputy, Olusola Kolapo lost Wednesday in a bid to stop the ongoing move for their impeachment.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja rejected their prayers for interim orders restraining the state’s Speaker, Adewale Omirin, other All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the state’s Assembly, the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola and others from proceeding with the impeachment plot.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling on their motion ex-parte, granted them leave for substituted services of all processes in relation to the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/302/2015, on the defendants.

    The judge ordered Omirin and the other defendants in the suit to appear before the court on April 16 to show cause why the restraining orders sought against them by the plaintiffs should not be granted.

    Plaintiffs in the suit include Olugbemi Joseph Dele (who claimed to be Speaker of the State Assembly), Ekiti State House of Assembly, Fayose and Kolapo.

    Listed as defendants are Omirin, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Chief Judge, Ekiti State.

    Plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ahmed Raji, while moving the ex-parte motion yesterday, argued that since Omirin was currently in court challenging his impeachment, he could no longer act under any guise as Speaker of the Ekiti Assembly, while Dele was already acting in his place.

    “The gravamen of our complaint is that a former Speaker of the parliament (in the person of the 1st defendant) is trying to impersonate the 1st plaintiff (Dele), who is the current Speaker of the parliament by holding himself out as the Speaker of the House.

    “We urge the court to grant our prayers as contained in the motion in the name of public order, peace and safety of the people of Ekiti State,” Raji said.

    He drew the judge’s attention to newspaper publication that one person had been killed since the move to impeach the governor and his deputy began.

    In his ruling, Justice Mohammed granted prayers one to four of the eight prayers contained in the ex-parte motion.

    He ordered that court processes should be served on Omirin and the state’s CJ through substituted means through newspaper advertisement.

    He also ordered that the CJ should be served through the Chief Registrar of the Ekiti High Court.

     

  • Impeachment: Monarchs, Elders, Clerics meet in Ekiti

    Impeachment: Monarchs, Elders, Clerics meet in Ekiti

    Apparently concerned by the violent dimension the raging impeachment crisis has assumed, traditional rulers and eminent citizens of Ekiti State are scheduled to hold a meeting Wednesday to broker peace among warring parties.

    Normalcy has returned to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, following Tuesday’s violent protests and an attempt to overrun the House of Assembly by loyalists of Governor Ayo Fayose who have denounced moves to impeach him from office.

    Although the State Council of Obas is due to hold an emergency meeting on the impeachment crisis, The Nation gathered that arrangements have been concluded to expand the scope of the parley to accommodate some eminent citizens of the state.

    The Nation’s findings at the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs on Wednesday revealed that finishing touches were being put to the meeting.

    The meeting expected to be presided over by the Chairman of the State Council of Obas and Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti, Oba Adamo Babalola.

    Other eminent citizens incorporated into the meeting, according to our investigation, are Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye; Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Right Reverend Christopher Omotunde; the Grand Imam of Ekiti State, Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere; elder statesman, Chief Oladeji Fasuan and eminent lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

    Meanwhile, relative peace has returned to the state as more residents came out on Wednesday to pursue their legitimate businesses unlike on Tuesday when many of them either went back home or stayed indoors.

    Government offices, corporate organizations, markets and other commercial centres opened their shops for business even though they did so late for fear of recurrence of Tuesday’s violence.

    Banks which closed hurriedly on Tuesday when violence escalated were besieged by customers on Wednesday as banking halls and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) Points witnessed winding queues.

    Taxi cabs and commercial motorcyclists who bore the brunt of the attacks by thugs the previous day plied their pride unhindered.

    But residents were still gripped with fear over presence of suspected thugs and drivers’ unions members at Moremi Park area of Ado-Ekiti.

    They had stormed the place early as 7.00 am in anticipation of the coming of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers. They all parked their buses fully loaded with their members and didn’t leave the place until 2.00 pm.

    Riot policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were still keeping watch over the House of Assembly complex with full complements of Armored Personnel Carriers and other security vehicles.

     

  • Soldiers bar 19 APC lawmakers from entering Ekiti

    Soldiers bar 19 APC lawmakers from entering Ekiti

    The nineteen All Progressive Congress members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly were on Tuesday barred from entering Ado-Ekiti, the state capital by soldiers.

    The lawmakers led by their Speaker, Rt. Hon. Wale Ominrin, were allegedly stopped at Itawure by armed soldiers on the order from the above.

    In company of other eighteen members, the majority leader of the House, Hon. Churchil Adedipe, at a press briefing in Osogbo, gave a graphic illustration of how they were stopped by their soldiers even when the police was ready to escort them into the state.

    Adedipe, who said they had earlier notified the police about their coming into the state for their legislative duties, vowed that they would not be deterred to impeach Ekiti state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose over allegations of constitutional breaches.

    Adedipe said that he suspected that the soldiers, who stopped them from entering Ekiti State were acting on instruction from Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh commanding 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure.

    ‎Adedipe said for over two hours, the soldiers prevented them from proceeding to Ado Ekiti, adding that information gathered by some of the lawmakers who made calls to people waiting for them at the state
    assembly indicated that Governor Fayose had brought thugs to the premises of the Assembly.

    ‎The lawmaker exercised the fear that Fayose might sponsor some thugs to attack them and to burn their houses in order to prevent being impeached, but said that “we want to assure him that any moment from now, we are going back to Ado Ekiti.‎”

    ‎Earlier, the Speaker, Wale Omirin, said Fayose has committed impeachable offences and would be impeached.

    The Speaker said the nineteen legislators had fixed their sitting for Tuesday to continue legislative business on the investigation into allegations levelled against Governor Fayose but the governor sent some soldiers and thugs to prevent them from sitting.
    ‎
    According to him: “Despite officially writing the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, informing him of our sitting, Governor Fayose, his Special Adviser on Political Matters and Commissioner for Works still led thugs into the premises of the assembly to disrupt activities there.

  • Impeachment crisis: Ekiti Obas call for peace

    Impeachment crisis: Ekiti Obas call for peace

    The Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has urged parties locked in the raging impeachment crisis to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign.

    The monarchs have scheduled an emergency meeting for Thursday to deliberate on the political situation in the state with a view to finding solution to the crisis.

    The Chairman of the Obas’ Council, Oba Adamo Babalola, warned against resort to violence urging any aggrieved party to approach the court for redress.

    Babalola who is also the Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area revealed that several attempts had been made in the past to resolve the House of Assembly crisis without success which necessitated the latest move.

    He said: “We have been told the runaway legislators are coming back to Ekiti State and that impeachment notice has been served.

    “I don’t know whether that is true, but we need to give peace a chance and allow the Obas to come in deliberate on the matter.

    “We have made attempts severally to settle the dispute between the executive and legislative arms. The legislators did not answer us.

    “I don’t know why coming to Ekiti should involve impeachment. We will hold a meeting on Thursday to deliberate on the matter.

    “People should maintain peace and people should not be disallowed from doing their businesses. The court is there for adjudication and we should make use of that.”

  • Impeachment: Fayose’s supporters block assembly

    Impeachment: Fayose’s supporters block assembly

    Scores of supporters of  Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday blocked all access roads leading to the state House of Assembly complex in a bid to prevent any impeachment proceedings.

    They arrived at the vicinity as early as 8a.m. and staged a protest around the complex.

    Their action was consequent upon a rumour that the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, who form the majority in the assembly, would storm the complex to sit and impeach Fayose from office.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyalists stormed the assembly area singing pro-Fayose songs and lashing at the APC lawmakers for harbouring plans to remove the governor, who they claimed “is innocent of the impeachable offences”.

    Backed by some government and party officials, they used a government-owned Ashok Leyland luxury bus to block the access road – Saliu Adeoti Road – to prevent the opposition lawmakers from gaining access to the complex.

    Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola; former House of Assembly Speaker, Olatunji Odeyemi and Special Assistant on Information, Youth and Sports, Lanre Ogunsuyi, were on hand to support the protesters.

    About nine Toyota Hilux vans belonging to the police and Department of State Services (DSS), conveying heavily armed operatives, were parked at the two main entrances leading to the assembly complex.

    The PDP members later turned the blockade into a roadshow, singing and dancing to music at the gate of the House of Assembly Service Commission.

    They were prevented from coming near the new assembly complex by the battle-ready and stern-looking security men, drafted there to maintain law and order.

    Many of the protesters, who were weary of singing and dancing and could no longer withstand the heat of the sun, sat under canopies placed in front of the old assembly complex.

    Addressing reporters on the purpose of the blockade, Ogunsuyi said Ekiti people were ready to take their destiny in their hands by fighting for the mandate they gave to Fayose on June 21 last year.

    The governor’s aide insisted that all the actions of the APC lawmakers reeked of illegality and impunity, saying Dr. Adewale Omirin was no longer the Speaker and lacked the power to preside over the assembly.

    Ogunsuyi added that Omirin was already in court challenging his impeachment, saying he could not be laying claim to the position.

    He added that the APC lawmakers were desecrating the rule of law and the constitution.

    He said: “The new Nigeria, which President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari campaigned for is the one that would respect the Rule of Law.

    “With this convergence, you can see that the people are standing by their governor. They are ready to defend their mandate.

    “Nobody asked Omirin and other APC lawmakers not to come to the Assembly. They only decided to abdicate their duties since last year November 17.

    “Impeachment procedure does not start and end with the Assembly alone. The judiciary is involved. So, this plan is highly condemnable.

    “We want to emphasise that they are welcome as long as they are concerned about making laws for the progress of the state. But if it was meant to come and impeach Governor Fayose, we won’t allow that”.

    Ogunsuyi, however, said the governor as the leader would continue to wave the olive branch to the opposition lawmakers for Ekiti to remain in peace and harmony.

    He said: “We want some measures of decorum in Ekiti. We are not proud of the era when we had three governors within a week. We want a stable government and we will continue to pursue this for Ekiti to be at peace.”

    Odeyemi advised the APC lawmakers to put the interest of the state above personal or partisan interests, warning that breakdown of law and order was an ill-wind that won’t blow any good.

    He said: “The entire issue calls for concerns. As a former legislator, I am quite aware of the rudiment of impeachment process. But far from this, the issue of the news any impeachment will bring to Ekiti’s credibility  is uppermost in my mind.”