Guardian / Nigeria: The Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday passed a resolution calling for the constitution of a judicial panel of inquiry into the financial transactions of the immediate-past government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
The House, at its plenary in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday, unanimously agreed that the judicial panel should be constituted to make the former governor and Minister of Solid Minerals Development account for the alleged mismanagement of the resources of the state during his tenure.
But the media aide of the Minister, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, described the action of the lawmakers “as nothing but legislative rascality.”Members of the House, including Samuel Omotoso, Jeje Samuel and Ekundayo Akinleye, said the state government should be compelled to constitute the judicial panel after the former governor had shunned the invitation to appear before the house thrice.
Leader of House Business, Olatunji Akinyele, moved the motion for the passage of the resolution and was seconded by the Deputy Leader, Adeniran Alagbada.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, decried the non-appearance of the former governor before members of the house, noting that his actions portrayed him as somebody who is above the law.
Oluwawole lamented the level of financial havoc wrecked by the Fayemi-led administration on the state and promised that the Assembly would perform its constitutional duties to put the state right on track.
Oyebode said in a statement made available to journalists that the decision of the lawmakers was not only ill-advised but reckless, considering the fact that two different law suits surrounding the purported probe are still pending in court.
He said, “simply put, the lawmakers’ attempt to institute a judicial panel or administrative panel, while the two cases involving the House of Assembly, its leadership and a top official of the present administration, in an Abuja High Court and Ado Ekiti Federal High Court, are yet to be determined is subjudice
“And, sadly, this is just a reflection of their poor knowledge of the law. The lawmakers are advised to study the constitution properly and understand their roles as well as the limit of their powers, as this desperate attempt to implicate the immediate past administration is nothing but another wild goose chase”, Oyebode added.
Also, the Publicity Secretary of the APC, Taiwo Olatunbosun described the resolution of the House as “a caricature and denigration of hallowed chamber. In fact, one wonders when they would be serious and stop chasing shadows. It is time for Ekiti people to tell them to do what they were actually elected to do and stop playing politics with everything.”Olatunbosun said that nobody from Ekiti would take serious such a panel if constituted because his decision has been predetermined.
He said, “Dr. Fayemi has nothing to be afraid of. He gave a comprehensive handover note to Fayose and audited report of his administration and it is doubtful if Fayose ever had time to study the report.’’
Meanwhile, governor Fayose and some secondary school students in the state yesterday received honour from the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria (PSDN) , an arm of the residency, for the outstanding performance of the students who did the nation proud in an international debate competition in Singapore.
The state contingent had come first come at the National Junior Engineers Technologists and Scientists competition (JETS) competition, while in NECO examinations, the state was adjudged the best in the whole of federation.
According to coordinator of PSDN, Dare Oritu, the unique performance of Ekiti students provided the basis for the PSDN under the auspices of the presidency for nominating the Ekiti Debate team to participate in the international debating championship in Singapore.Governor Fayose also gave monetary rewards to some students and their teachers who did the state proud in various competitions.
