Impeachment: Court Accepts Ekiti APC Lawmakers’ Application

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday accepted the application for discontinuance of suit filed by 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers in Ekiti State, challenging the impeachment of Speaker Adewale Omirin.

Justice Saliu Saidu while striking out the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1823/14, and filed against the Governor, Ayodele Fayose and 13 others for their alleged role in the impeachment of Omirin and his deputy, Adetunji Orisalade, awarded N100, 000 cost in favour of the defendants.

The plaintiffs had on April 7, filed an application through their lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN), seeking to discontinue their case against Fayose, the seven People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) lawmakers and others, over the ”’unlawful” removal of Omirin and Orisalade on November 20 last year.

Joined as the defendants along with Fayose,  Dele Olugbemi and Olayinka Abeni were the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in the state and the Department of State Service.

Others include the three commissioners cleared for appointment by the House under Olugbemi’s leadership and the five other PDP lawmakers in the House.

The plaintiffs among other things, sought an order restraining the factional Speaker of the House, Olugbemi, and his deputy, Abeni, from either parading themselves as or executing duties in the capacity of the leaders of the House.

The plaintiffs’ move to discontinue the suit was objected by the defendants who argued that the matter should rather be dismissed, since it has filed its statement of defence.

Counsel to the defendants, E.O. Afolayan, representing his principal Femi Adesina (SAN), prayed the court to dismiss the suit because “it is the proper thing to do.”

He urged the court to dismiss the case in order to foreclose any future representation of the matter by the plaintiffs.

Credit – The Nation

Ekiti Justice Forum Battles Fayose, Asks INEC To Shift Poll

The Ekiti Justice Forum has urged Governor Ayodele Fayose to respond to the impeachment notice served on him by the 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers with maturity and all sense of responsibility instead of creating tension.

The forum also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the House of Assembly election in the state because the atmosphere was not conducive for a free and fair election.

Fayose’s supporters and Peoples Democratic Party members had on Monday and Tuesday engaged in wild protest over the impeachment notice where eight impeachable offences were listed against the governor.

In a statement by the Chairman, Chief Sesan Fatoba; Secretary, Dare Owotomobi and Director of Publicity, Ojo Andrews, the group advised the governor to know that no amount of impunity can solve any constitutional crisis.

It said, “The political tension created in the last few days by the move of the 19 Ekiti State House of Assembly members to commence impeachment process against Governor Ayo Fayose has been made worse by the negative response of the Governor.

“The majority of the Ekiti State House of Assembly members being hunted by Governor Fayose are candidates in the April 11, 2015 election.

“None of these candidates have been allowed to go to their constituencies to campaign for votes for fear of being harassed, arrested or even killed by agents of Ekiti State government whereas the governor has been crisscrossing the State canvassing for votes for PDP candidates.

“This to us does not give equal chance to all the candidates to excel in the election. The present political atmosphere is heavily skewed against one of the major parties in the contest.”

The forum urged the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to consider the issue and shift the election for peace to reign and for the commission to achieve a free and fair election in the state.

Police Shut Ekiti House Of Assembly To Block APC Lawmakers

The same police that “interpreted” the law to withdraw Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s security are now finding it hard to understand that 7 members can not be greater than 19 members in Ekiti State.

There was tension in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday as the 19 APC lawmakers stormed the Ekiti State House of Assembly to resume their legitimate legislative duties.

Their return caught workers and the seven PDP lawmakers loyal to Governor Ayodele Fayose unawares and created tension as officials of the Assembly hurriedly vacated their offices.

The return of the lawmakers followed Tuesday’s directive by the state secretariat of the APC asking them to resume legislative duties as impunity has been defeated in the country.

But over 100 soldiers and police operatives promptly took over the Assembly to maintain peace while the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, ordered its immediate closure.

The 19 APC lawmakers had been on self-exile since November 20, 2014 when the seven PDP lawmakers illegally removed the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin with the help of the police in the state.

Mr. Dele Olugbemi, an ally of Governor Fayose, was installed as the Speaker by the faction and had been presiding over the Assembly.

The Speaker Omirin-led lawmakers arrived at the Assembly in a convoy of 14 vehicles at around 12noon and hurriedly went into parliamentary session which started with praise and worship, as well as prayer said by Mr. Folorunso Ogundele, representing Efon constituency.

The session lasted for 10 minutes and the lawmakers emerged from the Assembly and briefed the pressmen, who had patiently been waiting outside.

Omirin, who spoke on behalf of members, said they were in the assembly to begin their legislative duty.

As they emerged from the Assembly, some of them chanted ‘Sai Buhari Sai Baba’ – the political slogan of the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

“Why are you surprised that we are here? I don’t expect you to express surprise that we are in our offices because we were duly elected as members of the state House of Assembly.

“This is my office and I shouldn’t be asked why I am here. Though we have instituted a case against the seven lawmakers for the fake impeachment against me, but that would not prevent us from doing what we are supposed to do,” Omirin stated.

But the Commissioner of Police said he took the action to prevent violence in the state, saying the police must be proactive to prevent Ekiti from being plunged into crisis.