Ekiti Assembly suspends second lawmaker, pardons another

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has suspended another of its members, bringing to two the Number of the 26-member house that is now under suspension.

The Assembly, in a statement on Wednesday, said at its plenary on the day, it suspended the member representing Ekiti East Constituency I, Mr Ojo-Ade Fajana, “for 101 legislative days without pay, in the first instance, except he shows signs of genuine remorse.”

In the statement by Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Dr Samuel Omotoso, the assembly said “while on suspension, he is also barred within one kilometre radius of the Assembly complex and he must submit all properties of Ekiti State House of Assembly in his custody to the clerk of the House.”

Omotoso said “the suspension came into force after the disciplinary committee set up by the Speaker, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, to investigate Ojo-Ade submitted it’s report at plenary.”

According to him, “Ojo-Ade appeared twice at the sitting of the disciplinary

committee in the last two weeks, where he defended himself on allegations of gross misconduct, financial impropriety, failed attempt at removing the Speaker, violence and physical attack on honourable members, as well as bringing the name of the House to serious disregard and disrepute.”

He added that “the committee, in its report, said that whereas Fajana,  a member of the fifth Assembly representing Ekiti-East 1, having been found guilty of gross misconduct against the Ekiti State House of Assembly, hereby committed an offence by breaching the extant rules and standing orders of this honourable House.”

He said “the House, at its plenary unanimously approved the recommendations of the disciplinary committee as follows: That Fajana Ojo-Ade is, hereby, suspended from the Ekiti State House of Assembly and all legislative duties for a period of 101 legislative days without pay, in the first instance, except there is a sign of genuine remorse.

“2. That Fajana should write a letter of apology through the Speaker to the Ekiti State House of Assembly. That Fajana is, hereby, barred within one kilometre radius of the Assembly complex and must summit all the official properties in his care to the clerk of the House.”

Omotoso stated further that the Ekiti State House of Assembly, as a product of the rule of law, would, at all times, frown at any form of inappropriate behaviour by any member, “in our attempt to preserve the sanctity and the integrity of the institution for posterity.”

On August 17th, the house, which had accused the duo of Fajana and Michael Adedeji, representing Ekiti South West constituency, for alleged “unholy alliances with Senator Biodun Olujimi” which it said “made the two lawmakers to consistently exhibit signs and acted disrespectfully to the office of the Soeaker, thus bringing his office and the integrity of the house to disrepute.”

However, the house pardoned Adedeji, saying he had “shown remorse and penitence.”

The member representing Ikole 1, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, is also currently serving a 180-day suspension for sundry offences.