Posted by By Muyiwa Odu, Ado Ekiti, and Godwin Isa, Abuja on
Embattled Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, and his deputy, Abiodun Olujimi, Monday submitted written responses to the impeachment notice served them by the State House of Assembly, pleading innocent to the charges of corruption and abuse of office levelled against them.
Embattled Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, and his deputy, Abiodun Olujimi, Monday submitted written responses to the impeachment notice served them by the State House of Assembly, pleading innocent to the charges of corruption and abuse of office levelled against them.
The development came as names of members of the committee to investigate the duo were released at about 5.30pm on the same day.
The seven-man panel, scheduled for inauguration Tuesday has Remi Bamgboye, a lawyer as chairman and Ali Apanisile as well as Segun Adesuji as members.
Other members include: Rev. Segun Da-Silva Ige, Chief Olu Alade, Pastor Solomon Ajisafe and Mrs. Funmilayo Olukogbon.
But the state government appears uncomfortable with the composition of the body and has expressed cynicism about the possibility of the governor getting justice.
For instance, the State Information Commissioner, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase, linked one of the members to the law chamber of a known enemy of the governor based in Lagos, alleging that another was the lawyer's personal friend who is also speculated to be a counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
'To us, we have resigned to faith in God. If judged wrongly, God will judge us again," Oguntuase said, adding that the governor was prepared to accept the verdict of the panel in good faith.
He enjoined the people of the state to pray for Governor Fayose.
A top source hinted Daily Sun that aspirants eyeing the governor's seat in 2007 met in Akure, Ondo State capital to review developments in troubled Ekiti. At the end of the parley, they were said to have resolved to support either Olujimi or the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Friday Aderemi to step into Fayose's shoes, albeit, with a proviso that they (Olujimi and Speaker) would not run in the 2007 elections.
Daily Sun learnt that against apprehension for her safety, the deputy governor may have been flown to Abuja for safe-keeping pending the outcome of the Bamgboye - led panel's investigations. But this could not be confirmed by press time.
Surces said the crisis in the state transcended local politics but reached beyond the state, with Fayose's camp being deliberately weakened through arrests.
Meanwhile the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero has told a Federal High Court that he has constituted another team of detectives to investigate Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose and others over the murder of Tunde Omojola at Ifaki, Ekiti State.
The families of the late Tunde Omojola have secured the leave of a Federal High Court to compel the Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, and the Code of Conduct Bureau, to investigate the Ekiti State Governor over the murder of their son.
But in his counter affidavit filed before the court, the Inspector General told the court that the police has never declined to institute investigations into the matter as claimed by the families.
According to him, "there has never been a failure or refusal by the police to investigate the murder of Tunde Omojola at Ifaki Ekiti. The police is quite aware of its constitutional obligations and had been discharging same without let or hinderance.
"It is needless to order the 1st respondent (Police) to commence any other investigations into this matter as he has since instituted inquiry into the matter and which is still on going."
He however noted that, "it is not the responsibility of the police to interfere or direct the State Security Services in the discharge of their duties as provided by the constitution or as they may be directed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
The families had told the court that the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose and his armed gang intentionally killed Tunde Omojola at Ifaki Ekiti on Saturday, May 28, 2005 without any legal justification.
Counsel to the families, Mr. Femi Falana who moved the exparte application, informed the court that in spite of repeated demands by his clients, the Insector-General of Police has failed or refused to investigate the cold murder of Tunde Omojola. Mr. Falana also told the court that the second respondent (Code of Conduct Bureau), has equally
refused to investigate and refer to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the alleged murder of Tunde Omojola by the Ekiti State Governor and his armed gang.
In their facts in support of their exparte application, the applicants, Mr. Kayode Omojola and Deaconess Sola Omojola averred that the late Omojola, 31, who was based in Holland, had visited home in May 2005 to prepare for his wedding which was scheduled
to hold in November, 2005 when he met his untimely death.
Narrating the circumstances of his death, the families of the deceased said he was at Ifaki Ekiti on May 28, 2005 to monitor the councillorship election being contested by his brother-in-law, Mr. Labaika Suleiman under the platform of the National Conscience Party (NCP).
According to them, during the said bye-election, 'Governor Fayose and his armed gang invaded the election venue in order to rig the said election in favour of the candidate of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
'As Governor Fayose was replacing the ballot boxes with stuffed ones brought from Ado Ekiti, he ordered his Chief Security Officer to effect the arrest of the officials of the NCP, who challenged his criminal activities.
'For daring to request him to release those who were arrested for challenging the rigging of the election, Governor Ayo Fayose ordered his armed gang to beat up Tunde Omojola. The armed gang pounced on Tunde Omojola and beat him to a state of coma and was thereafter strangled."
The families told the court that all attempts by some good Samaritans to rush the deceased to the Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti were frustrated by the Governor and in the circumstances, he (Omojola), was left to writhe in pains until he died.