The Ekiti State House of Assembly has imposed a fine of N1million on immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, saying the fine was to cover the cost incurred by the Assembly in summoning his over the past one year.
The Assembly said in a press briefing on Tuesday that Dr Fayemi, who is currently serving as the Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development, had “officialy been declared a lawbreaker by the Ekiti State House of Assembly and there are consequences for breaking the law.”
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Dr Samuel Omotosho, who addressed newsmen on behalf of the Assembly, said they took the decision at their plenary of Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
Dr Omotosho said “arising from the plenary session of the fifth Ekiti State House of Assembly on Tuesday, 11 April 2017, this house passed the following resolutions:
“One: That a reminder letter be written to the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to effect the warrant issued by this honourable house and arrest Dr Kayode Fayemi with immediate effect.
“Two: That the sum of N1million being the cost incurred by this house during the activities surrounding his invitations be imposed on Dr Kayode Fayemi as a fine, to serve as deterrents to future heady elements and bullies of democracy.”
According to the Assembly, the house had invited Dr Fayemi at three consecutive times spanning a period of one year, saying “the first invitation was sent on March 10th 2016; the second invitation was sent on November 29th 2016. The third invitation was sent on February 2nd, 2017.”
The lawmakers contended that “rather than attend to these invitations by the EKHA as empowered by section 129, 1c, of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and come to the Assembly to explain himself on allegations of corruption and abuse of office levied against him by the executive arm of government, Dr 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.”
Explaining the failed invitation, he said the House was empowered by Section 129, 1c, of the constitution of Nigeria, saying it “granted us express powers to invite anybody for information and clarifications, especially on matters of evidence.”
He said: “This same constitution bearing in mind some heady elements and bullies of democracy, also empowered this house under section 129, 1d, to issue warrant to compel the attendance of such lawbreakers.
“This we have done and Dr Fayemi was officially declared wanted on February 7th 2017 and the police was adequately communicated through the IGP to effect his arrest forthwith.
“Up till this moment the police has failed to carry out their constitutional duties as confer by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He said “this breach of the law of the land is one too many on the part of Dr John Kayode 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 declare the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi as a law breaker and in exercising our powers under section 129, 1d, of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria hereby impose a fine of N1m against Dr Fayemi and payable to the Ekiti State House of Assembly.”