Supreme court verdict : Ekiti relocates LG headquarters

Ekiti state government has announced the relocation of the headquarter of Ilejemeje local government area from Iye-Ekiti to Eda Oniyo Ekiti following the verdict of the supreme court on the matter.

Following the pronouncement in 1996 of Iye Ekiti the headquarters against Eda Oniyo that was contained in the federal government’s gazette, the Eda Oniyo people had gone to court to contest what they described as politically motivated relocation of the headquarters by the then military governor, Col. Inua Mohammed Bawa.

The supreme court in its judgement last year December recognised Eda Oniyo as the headquarters and ordered Governor Kayode Fayemi to effect the relocation with immediate effect.

Addressing a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Monday, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, said the state took the decision following the advice of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda and the report of a fact finding committee.

He said the committee advised that by virtue of the Supreme Court’s pronouncement, that it would be “illegal, irregular, unconstitutional, null and void”, to recognise Iye Ekiti, as the headquarters of the council.

Egbeyemi said, ” The decision of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land is sacrosanct and inviolable and is binding on the government.

“That by virtue of the judgement, Eda Oniyo is the only legally recognised headquarters of Ilejemeje local government.

“That the headquarters of Ilejemeje local government and its machinery are hereby relocated by Ekiti State Government from Iye Ekiti to Eda Oniyo Ekiti.”

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Egbeyemi noted that by virtue of the pronouncement, all government departments, institutions, organisations, public functionaries, corporate bodies and others are expected to cooperate with the government to facilitate smooth relocation.

The Deputy Governor further directed the Chairman of the council, Hon Sunday Awolola and the commissioner for local government, Prof Adio Folayan to prepare a schedule for the relocation of the council to the new town.

The monarch of Eda Oniyo Ekiti, Oba Julius Awolola, applauded the government for relocating the council to his domain and for obeying the judgement of the court.

“I want to appeal to my people not to be over joyous. They should maintain peace. We have not fought for 23 years. The day they even took it forcefully, we did not fight. We appreciate the government for this gesture,” he said.