Fayemi’s lawyer: Ekiti panel’s sitting, contempt of court

THE continued sitting of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry
investigating the finances of Ekiti State during the administration
of the former governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has been described as a
contempt of court. Counsel to Fayemi, Chief Rafiu Balogun, who
appeared before the Justice Silas Oyewole- led panel on yesterday
insisted that his client will not appear before the seven-member
jury on how the state funds were spent during his tenure.

Balogun who was in court for the adoption of his application
filed on September 12 also prayed the panel to stay further
proceeding on the matter and that Fayemi should be excused from
appearing. Counsel to the panel, Mr. Sunday Bamise, argued that
Fayemi’s counsel could not bring an oral submission of his brief of
argument but must file a written address in order to save time.
Fayemi’s counsel, Balogun, countered Bamise urging the panel to
compel its counsel to file his written address promising to file
his (Balogun’s) reply. Balogun also urged the panel to allow him
file his reply on the appearance of the Commissioner of Finance and
Economic Development during the administration of Fayemi, Mr. Dapo
Kolawole, who was also summoned by the panel to appear before it
and give evidence.

The matter was adjourned to September 18 as Bamise sought the
plea of the panel to enable him call his witnesses from the state
ministries of agriculture and Information to give evidence on
issues affecting them. The panel adjourned to the said date for
exchange of written addresses by parties involved. Shedding more
light on why Fayemi will not honour the panel with his appearance
in an interview with reporters after Friday’s proceedings, Balogun
said the ex-governor had filed three cases pending before courts of
competent jurisdiction on the the constitution of the panel.

Fayemi had filed cases before the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti,
Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti and High Court of the Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja on the matters that touch on the terms of
reference of the panel. Balogun described the resolution passed by
the Ekiti State House of assembly empowering Governor Ayo Fayose to
set up the panel as an abberation and deliberate contempt for the
pendency of suits filed against the state parliament. The lawyer
further stressed that the action negated the Standing Rules of the
Ekiti State House of Assembly which forbids discussion of matters
pending before the court of law.

THE continued sitting of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry
investigating the finances of Ekiti State during the administration
of the former governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has been described as a
contempt of court. Counsel to Fayemi, Chief Rafiu Balogun, who
appeared before the Justice Silas Oyewole- led panel on yesterday
insisted that his client will not appear before the seven-member
jury on how the state funds were spent during his tenure.

Balogun who was in court for the adoption of his application
filed on September 12 also prayed the panel to stay further
proceeding on the matter and that Fayemi should be excused from
appearing. Counsel to the panel, Mr. Sunday Bamise, argued that
Fayemi’s counsel could not bring an oral submission of his brief of
argument but must file a written address in order to save time.
Fayemi’s counsel, Balogun, countered Bamise urging the panel to
compel its counsel to file his written address promising to file
his (Balogun’s) reply. Balogun also urged the panel to allow him
file his reply on the appearance of the Commissioner of Finance and
Economic Development during the administration of Fayemi, Mr. Dapo
Kolawole, who was also summoned by the panel to appear before it
and give evidence.

The matter was adjourned to September 18 as Bamise sought the
plea of the panel to enable him call his witnesses from the state
ministries of agriculture and Information to give evidence on
issues affecting them. The panel adjourned to the said date for
exchange of written addresses by parties involved. Shedding more
light on why Fayemi will not honour the panel with his appearance
in an interview with reporters after Friday’s proceedings, Balogun
said the ex-governor had filed three cases pending before courts of
competent jurisdiction on the the constitution of the panel.

Fayemi had filed cases before the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti,
Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti and High Court of the Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja on the matters that touch on the terms of
reference of the panel. Balogun described the resolution passed by
the Ekiti State House of assembly empowering Governor Ayo Fayose to
set up the panel as an abberation and deliberate contempt for the
pendency of suits filed against the state parliament. The lawyer
further stressed that the action negated the Standing Rules of the
Ekiti State House of Assembly which forbids discussion of matters
pending before the court of law.