BEVERLY HILLS, April 11, (THEWILL) – The Ekiti State House of Assembly has fined former governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, the sum of N1 million for refusing to appear before it over sundry allegations of corruption levelled against him.
Fayemi, now Minister of Mining and Steel Development, was first invited by the assembly on March 10, 2016 to explain how N852 million Universal Basic Education allegedly got missing during his tenure as governor as alleged by the State Government.
Although the former governor is already in court where he filed for N500 million damages against members of the assembly, saying the allegations and the summons had greatly undermined his reputation.
The assembly, while passing the resolution, also agreed to send a letter of reminder to the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to effect the arrest warrant issued by the house and against Fayemi.
The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Samuel Omotoso, told journalists in Ado-Ekiti, that the invitation of the Minister by the house was public knowledge saying that he had been invited three times within a period of one year.
“The 1st invitation was sent on March 10th 2016. The 2nd invitation was sent on November 29th 2016. The 3rd Invitation was sent on February 2nd 2017,” he revealed.
“Rather than attend to these invitations by the EKHA as empowered by section 129, 1c, of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and come to the Assembly to explain himself on allegations of corruption and abuse of office levied against him by the executive arm of Government, Dr Fayemi prefers to play to the gallery.
“He shadow-boxed himself by putting his face at the laws of our land, thus constituting a serious affront and threat to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. Section 129, 1c, of the constitution of the FRN granted us express powers to invite anybody for information and clarifications, especially on matters of evidence.
“This we have done and Dr Fayemi was officially declared wanted on February 7th 2017 and the police was adequately communicated through the IGP to effect his arrest forthwith. Up to this moment the police has failed to carry out their constitutional duties as conferred by the 1999 constitution of the FRN.
“Going from the above, this house today officially declared the Fayemi as a law breaker and in exercising our powers under section 129,1d, of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria hereby imposes a fine of one million against Dr Fayemi and payable to the EKHA.
“Section 129(1d) ordered him to pay all cost which may have been occasioned in compelling his attendance or by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons and also to impose such fine as may be prescribed for any such failure, refusal or neglect, and any fine so imposed shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.”
