Ekiti state House of Assembly on Thursday ordered Governor Ayodele Fayose to set up a judicial or administrative panel to probe his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a serving minister, over alleged financial misconduct while he was in office.
The Assembly said the step became imperative sequel to Fayemi’s refusal to appear before it to shed light on the alleged diversion of N852 billion Universal Basic Education Board’s fund during his time.
Quoting Section 129 of the 1999 constitution to back its action, the assembly had on March 22, 2016 and 7th February, 2017 ordered Fayemi to appear before it and clear his name over allegations which bordered on misappropriation of funds during his tenure.
Rather than appearing before the lawmakers, the former governor had approached a federal High Court in Ado Ekiti and slammed a N500 million libel suit on the assembly saying its action amounted to defamation of character.
At a plenary presided by the Speaker, Hon Kola Oluwawole , the assembly berated Fayemi for treating the Assembly with contempt, saying this was not expected of him as a former governor of the state.
The Majority Leader, Hon Tunji Akinyele moved the motion for the executive to compose the panel to probe Fayemi and was seconded by Hon Jeje. Other lawmakers that spoke in support were Samuel Omotoso, Abiola Jeje and Ekundayo Akinleye.
Also, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon Omotoso slammed the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris and other security agencies over their lukewarm dispositions to arrest Fayemi despite the valid warrant of arrest issued by the Assembly against him.
