Fayose Calls on NJC to Probe Ekiti Crisis

Mr Ayodele Fayose

• Accuses APC of propaganda  19 suspects nabbed over Aderiye’s murder

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to launch an investigation into the allegation of beating up a judge by him and other happenings in the state judiciary in recent times, saying it will expose the cans of worms.

He also urged the NJC, legal officers and Nigerians as a whole not to be swayed by the propaganda launched by the All Progressives Congress (APC), but to look at all issues at stake dispassionately and be guided by the truth.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja yesterday, the governor-elect said all the news about his causing troubles in the state was just a part of a grand plan by the APC to cause crisis in the state with a view to preventing his inauguration on October 16.

“What I am saying is that the NJC should launch a thorough probe on the happenings in the state judiciary and through that, the rot in the system will be exposed.

“A lot of things are happening there, and there are signs that some judicial officers are conniving with the outgoing Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the APC.

“The current crisis is an agenda of the APC and their sole aim is to try and get through the back door, what the people of the state did not give them on June 21 when they voted overwhelmingly for me and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“I did not and cannot slap a judge. I cannot slap a house boy, let alone a High Court judge, and I have utmost respect for judicial officers.

“The media propaganda that I beat up a judge is an APC agenda to portray me in bad light having failed to take my mandate through the back door.

“The state Attorney General, Wale Fapounda, had disclosed that he had spoken with the judge in question, on Sunrise programme on Saturday morning on Channels TV where he made it clear that the news that I slapped the judge was all lies.

“I did not enter Justice John Adeyeye’s court because I had no business to transact there. The tribunal venue, where I went to, is quite a distance from Adeyeye’s court. Then the pertinent question is, at what point  did I meet him?
“Is it that the judge left his courtroom with his robe to face the so-called protesters? Investigation will reveal all this.

“Up until now, nobody has been able to
provide photo or video evidence that I slapped the judge. And the APC members should know that I will not succumb to
blackmail and surrender the mandate freely given to me by the people of the state,” he said.

The governor-elect noted that the PDP leaders were aware of the various petitions written to the NJC by the APC leaders in the state, saying investigation would reveal the truth.
He also stated that the actions and utterances of Fayemi in recent times showed a collaboration between him and some judicial officers.

“For the information of all, I am openly expressing my readiness to appear before the committee to be set up by the NJC even after I must have been sworn in, to testify on the issue if need be.

“The whole issue I can say with all intent was part of a grand plan by the APC to cause mayhem and through it, install the Speaker of the state House of Assembly as acting Governor which the people of the state has seen through, and are ready to stop at all cost,” Fayose added.

Meanwhile, arising from the assassination of the immediate former Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Omolafe Aderiye last Thursday, the police in the state yesterday announced the arrest of 19 people including a female.

The police, through a statement issued by its spokesperson in the state, Mr. Victor Babayemi, clarified that those arrested were caught between last Saturday and yesterday, noting that thorough and unsparing investigations had commenced on them.

Babayemi, in his statement clarified: “All of them are still with us as we are investigating their levels of culpability. It is a sensitive case and investigations have to be thorough. All of them are also helping us (the police) in our investigations”

Adding that it would not be possible to reveal the identity of those said to be undergoing interrogation, Babayemi noted, their identity would be made known at the appropriate time.”
Babayemi also disclosed the police had held a separate meeting with leaders of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), market men and women, religious leaders, okada riders and other interest groups.

Babayemi said the reason was to find a lasting solution to constant upsurge of violence.

In attendance at the meeting headed by the Assistant Inspector-General (of police) in charge of Zone 8, Mr. Christopher Dega and the Ekiti CP were eight traditional rulers, including Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola (the Onitaji of Itaji and Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers); Oba Adebayo Adewole, the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti; Oba James Adedapo Popoola, Oore of Otun-Ekiti; and Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, Owa Ooye of Okemesi.

Others were Oba Olu Adegoke Adeyemi, Alara of Aramoko; Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, the Oloye of Oye kingdom and Oba Samuel Ajiboye, the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti.

Ekiti CP reportedly charged the traditional rulers on the need for them to maintain and sustain peace, adding they had certain degree of influence on their people whic he urged them to use.

The AIG, according to Babayemi said “what is happening is giving the state a bad image outside and you as the custodians of the tradition of the people should help us and ensure that this is soon brought to an end.”

Meanwhile, a source at the meeting noted that one of the traditional rulers had clarified the problem was caused by the fact that the people felt that a few people were “trying to scuttle the mandate they had freely given in the last election.”