THE Peoples Democratic Party Governor’s Forum
yesterday described the freezing of the personal
accounts of Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele
Fayose by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, as gross abuse of the
constitution.
yesterday described the freezing of the personal
accounts of Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele
Fayose by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, as gross abuse of the
constitution.
The forum, which spoke through its Chairman and
Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has
therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari
to call the anti-graft agency to order.
This came as the Ekiti State House of Assembly
faulted the move by the EFCC, saying it acted
beyond its powers.
Reacting to the freezing of Fayose’s account by
the EFCC, Governor Mimiko noted that EFCC’s
action has portrayed the nation as one in crisis.
Expressing his displeasure over the step, Mimiko
said EFCC cannot interfere with the account of a
sitting governor, adding that, it was contrary to
Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
In a statement, the Ondo State governor argued
that if the intention is to suggest any criminal
infraction or fraud against the governor, the
agency should have sheathe its sword till he
(Fayose) vacates office.
While he warned that the country is drifting
towards totalitarianism, he insisted that the
account of any individual could only be frozen
after a court of competent jurisdiction as so ruled
or an interim order by a court of competent
jurisdiction is granted to the anti graft agency.
EFCC acted beyond powers — Ekiti Assembly
Reacting to the development, the Ekiti State
House of Assembly described EFCC’s action as
ultra vires.
Describing the action as null and void, the
Assembly said the order formed part of the
resolution of the House, which also witnessed
passing of a vote of confidence on Governor
Fayose, at its plenary at the Assembly complex
in Ado-Ekiti.
Speaker of the House, Mr Kola Oluwawole, and
Leader of Business, Mr Tunji Akinyele, at plenary,
noted that being the second anniversary of
Fayose’s election, it was a sad commentary on
the nation’s democracy, that after having severally
tried unsuccessfully to discredit the election, the
All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal
Government had resorted to arm-twisting to
embarrass and cause discomfort for the Fayose-
led government in Ekiti State.
Passing a vote of confidence on the governor,
the lawmakers said “the 26 of us in the House of
Assembly are resolutely loyal to the governor and
his government and no amount of intimidation or
monetary inducement can sway us otherwise.”
Strike: Fayose, labour meeting deadlocked
Meantime, as the industrial action declared by
the Ekiti workers entered its fourth week, the
meeting between Governor Ayodele Fayose and
the organised labour ended in a deadlock
yesterday.
The meeting, which was called by the governor to
interact with labour leaders in the state on how to
resolve the disputes that led to the ongoing
strike lasted for three hours and the union leaders
were seen wearing long faces while leaving the
venue.
In a telephone interview, the state chairman of the
Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Raymond
Adesanmi, told Vanguard that the strike would
continue because the meeting failed to resolve
the contending issues.
“The governor listened to us and promised to get
back to us. We are also going to have our own
meeting on Wednesday to review the situation
but the strike continues. It is either three months
salary or no talk.”
