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• Imposes N1m fine on ex-gov
Ekiti House of Assembly has urged Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to arrest former governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
This was even as the lawmakers imposed N1 million fine on Fayemi, who is also Minister of Mines and Steel Development, for failing to honour an invitation extended to him, to answer some allegations of fraud against him.
Regardless, the House has sent a letter to remind the IGP about an existing warrant of arrest on the minister.
Chairman, House Committee on Information, Samuel Omotosho, addressing newsmen after plenary yesterday and said: “Arising from the plenary, this House passed the following resolutions: that a reminder letter be written to the Nigeria Police, through the IGP, to effect the warrant issued by this House and arrest Dr. Fayemi with immediate effect; that N1 million being the cost incurred by this House during the activities surrounding his invitations be imposed on Fayemi as a fine to serve as deterrents to others.
“It is public knowledge that this House invited the minister on three consecutive times spanning a period of one year; the first invitation being March 10, 2016, second was November 29, 2016 and third was February 2, 2017.”
Omotosho, who cited sections of the Constitution, which empowers the state Assembly to impose a fine on Fayemi, further explained the rationale behind the fine: “Rather than attend to these invitations as empowered by Section 129 (1) (c), of the constitution and come to the assembly to explain himself on allegations of corruption and abuse of office levelled against him by the executive arm of government, Fayemi prefers to play to the gallery.
“He shadow-boxed himself by putting his face at the laws of our land, thus constituting a serious affront and threat to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
“Section 129 (1) (c), of the constitution granted us express powers to invite anybody for informations and clarifications, especially on matters of evidence.
“This same constitution also empowered this House under Section 129 (1) (d), to issue warrant to compel the attendance of such lawbreakers.
“This we have done and Dr. Fayemi was officially declared wanted on February 7, 2017 and the police were adequately communicated, through the IGP, to effect his arrest forthwith.
“Up till this moment, the police have failed to carry out their constitutional duties as confer by the 1999 Constitution.
“This breach of the law of the land is one too many on the part of Dr. Fayemi and stands condemned by this House and all lovers of democracy and the rule of law.
“Going from the above, this House, today, officially declares Dr. Fayemi as a law breaker and in exercising our powers, under Section 129,1d of the 1999 constitution, hereby, impose a fine of N1 million against him and payable to the Ekiti Assembly.
“As it stands, today, Dr. Fayemi is a wanted man in Nigeria. He has also been declared a law-breaker by Ekiti assembly.”
