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Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Monday inaugurated a judicial commission of enquiry to investigate allegations of fraud against his immediate predecessor, and current Minister for Steel and Minerals Resources Development, Kayode Fayemi.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that this followed a resolution passed by the Ekiti State House Assembly some weeks ago, which directed the governor to pursue the investigations given that the minister failed to appear before the house when summoned the come and testify.
The assembly had accused Fayemi of diverting funds belonging to the state Universal Basic Education Board while serving as governor of the state.
But the minister denied any wrong doing, saying the house and the state government were out to tarnish his image.
Fayemi had also derided the house for the call for his investigation, saying the case in question was before a court of law.
Fayose, while constituting the panel in Ado Ekiti, explained that the move was in compliance with the resolution of the House of Assembly.
“In compliance with the resolution of the State House of Assembly and pursuant to the powers conferred on Mr. Governor in section 2 of the Ekiti State Commission of Enquiry Cap C10 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, His Excellency, Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose, has set up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to look into the financial transactions of the state between 2010 and 2014,” the governor’s speech read on his behalf by the Secretary to State Government, Modupe Alade, said.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the commission is headed by retired Justice, Silas Oyewole, of the Ekiti State High Court.
It has as its terms of reference, to ascertain how much Ekiti State Government received as statutory allocations during the period under review and how same were disbursed.
The commission is also to “look into the financial transactions of Ekiti State between 2010 and 2014; ascertain the amount received on behalf of the State from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC); investigate the allegations of fraud/loss of funds, including the diversion and conversion of the UBEC funds; ascertain the amount that the Ekiti State Government took as loans during the period under review and how they were utilized.”
It was also mandated to consider all other issues relating to the finances of the Ekiti State Government within the period under review, and to make appropriate recommendations to the Ekiti State Government.
“This is no witch-hunt because severally, the State House of Assembly, that is conferred with the power to look into the finances of the state, has invited former governor John Kayode Fayemi to clarify some issues bothering on the finances of the state such as the SUBEB funds which was mismanaged and others,” Mrs. Aladje said.
“But despite having been invited for three times, he has refused to honour the invitation.
“Since he has refused to do that, the governor, acting on the directives by the state Assembly and the powers conferred on him by the constitution, has set up this judicial Commission of Enquiry.”
Ekiti State Attorney General, Owoseni Ajayi, said the setting up of the enquiry was in strict compliance with section two of the Ekiti State Law on the establishment of Judicial Commission of Enquiry.
“Fortunately, this particular law was signed into Law in 2012 by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, which means it is an extant Law, a Law of the state and not intended to witch-hunt anybody,” he said.
“The Commission is a fact finding one and there is no cause for anybody to be afraid of the proceedings of the Commission which is quasi-judiciary and would be in the open court and not hidden from anybody.”
Ajayi assured that the principles of fair hearing would be upheld as all parties must be given a fair hearing in the proceedings.
“It is not at all targeted at former governor Kayode Fayemi in person, but it is to find facts as to how the finances of the state were dispensed under that administration,” he said.
“So, if anybody is called upon by that Commission, and served adequate notice through a medium by which they can be informed, and they abdicated their right to defend or present facts contrary to what is presented, then they will be taken as if they have abandoned their right of fair hearing and any judgement passed thereof would be binding on such persons.”
Your panel, a waste of time, Fayemi fires back
However, in a swift reaction, the Minister for Steel and Minerals Resources Development and former governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, described the judicial commission inaugurated by his successor (Fayose) on Monday as “an exercise in futility”.
Yinka Oyebode, Special Assistant on Media to the minister said in a statement that the governor’s action was at variance with the laws of the land which makes it subjudice for anyone to entertain a matter that is already before a court of competent jurisdiction.
“It is obvious, Governor Fayose is desperate to probe the administration of his predecessor in office, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for personal vendetta. Yet, he is advised to be guided by the rule of law and decency in this wild goose chase.
“The Governor and members of the panel are reminded that the two cases involving the House of Assembly, its leadership and top officials of the present administration are still pending In an Abuja High Court and a Federal High Court in Ado, thus making it an act of illegality for another panel to look into the matter.
“The governor is advised to concentrate on the serious task of governance and refrain from shadow chasing which the current pursuit of personal vendetta through a kangaroo committee clearly represents,” he added.