Fayose Set Up Judicial Panel To Probe Fayemi

The Assembly gave the directive following a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Tunji Akinyele, and seconded by Mr Abiola Jeje.

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has ordered Governor Ayodele Fayose to set up a Judicial or Administrative Panel to probe his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, over alleged mismanagement of state funds.

Citing Section 129 of the 1999 Constitution, the Assembly had on March 22, 2016 and February 7, 2017 summoned Fayemi to come and defend himself over alleged diversion of N852m Universal Basic Education Board’s fund during his time.

But the former governor refused to honour the invitation and instead wrote the assembly on one occasion stating that the explanation sought was contained in his handover note.

The lawmakers at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, on Thursday berated Fayemi for treating the assembly with contempt.

Before putting the motion to a voice vote, the Speaker said, “Dr John Kayode Fayemi has slighted this house by his conduct by refusing to honour our invitation. This Assembly duly invited him to come and explain how he managed the finances of this state, particularly, the SUBEB fund and other projects.

“The House had summoned him three times, but he disobeyed the regulation of this house. So, the state government should as a matter of urgency set up a judicial or administrative panel of inquiry to look into the finances of this state under Fayemi’s government,” he said.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Samuel Omotoso, slammed the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris and other security agencies over their lukewarm disposition to arrest Fayemi despite the valid warrant of arrest issued by the assembly against him.

“The IGP can’t claim that Governor Fayemi is at large. He has been attending the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting and nobody even called him for questioning or thought of arresting him. That was unfortunate.”