CJ fails to raise impeachment panel against Fayose

The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, has yet
to constitute a panel to investigate Governor Ayodele Fayose and
his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, over allegations raised in the
impeachment notice against them by the 19 All Progressives
Congress’ lawmakers.
The embattled Speaker of the Ekiti State House of A$$embly, Dr.
Adewale Omirin, had directed the CJ to raise a seven-man panel
to investigate allegations of impunity, violence, stalking and other
constitutional breaches against the governor.
Omirin, the leader of the 19 APC lawmakers in an April 9 letter had
urged Justice Daramola to raise the panel within seven days of
receipt of the letter
But the factional Speaker and leader of the Peoples Democratic
Party caucus, Dele Olugbemi, in a counter-directive had asked the
CJ to ignore the letter.
However, two weeks after, the CJ has yet to raise the panel as
directed.
Our correspondent gathered that the Chief Judge had not
acknowledged receipt of the letter two weeks after it was issued.
Confirming this to The PUNCH on Thursday, the Chief Registrar of
the Ekiti State High Court, Mr. Obafemi Fasanmi, maintained that
he was not aware of the letter directing the CJ to raise any panel.
“I’m not aware of any letter sent to the CJ requesting for
composition of a panel. The CJ has also not acknowledged that he
had received any letter,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the
APC lawmakers are set on a collision course as the two have
openly disagreed on the impeachment proceedings.
While the monarchs have opposed the impeachment plot, saying
the people should be allowed to enjoy the mandate “freely” given
to the governor, the party accused them of bias in the handling of
the crisis.
In a statement issued by the Chairman and Onitaji of Itaji, Oba
Adamo Babalola, the council commended the Chief Judge for
“rising above partisan positions to uphold the tenet of his office
despite obvious pressure from interested quarters.”
The monarchs implored Justice Daramola to ensure that the
popular wish of the generality of the people was not subverted.
They also advised the governor to consider giving palliative
measures that could alleviate the sufferings of the agitating
legislators who had not been paid salaries and allowances since
November.
“Council also acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of the law
enforcement agents in maintaining law and order in the state and
for ensuring that the wish of the people is not truncated.
“…On our part as traditional rulers, council has called on Obas in
the communities of the members of the agitating legislators in their
different domains to put an end to this impeachment saga and
tread the path of peace,” the council stated.
The council wondered why the lawmakers, who had abandoned the
state for months resurfaced shortly after Maj. Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari (retd.) of the APC was declared the President-elect. The
monarchs described the action as unpatriotic.
The monarchs stated that the landslide victories Fayose had
recorded in various elections conducted before and after he a
$$umed office, had confirmed the people’s preference for his
leadership.
But the state chapter of the APC said it was not surprised by the
partisan role of the traditional rulers judging by their complicity in
the festering crisis.
The state Chairman of the party, Jide Awe, in a statement on
Thursday regretted that the Obas chose to keep quiet when Fayose
turned the heat on the lawmakers but now found it convenient to
blame them when the governor was under the threat of
impeachment.
He said, “Why praising the Chief Judge for not setting up the panel
to investigate Fayose over his illegal acts? This is a clear support
for brigandage and lawlessness and it is unfortunate that the crisis
is being turned into a profiteering escapade in the face of ridicule
and lawlessness in our state by the governor that has put Ekiti
people to shame across the globe.