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Tag: Fayose

  • Forgive my shortcomings, Fayose begs aggrieved PDP members

    Forgive my shortcomings, Fayose begs aggrieved PDP members

    The Immediate past governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has pleaded to the aggrieved members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to forgive him of all his iniquities when in office.

    Fayose urged the aggrieved members to sheathe swords against him, embrace his peace initiative and work together with unity of purpose and togetherness to relaunch the party to prominence in the state.

    The former governor spoke on Tuesday in his Afao-Ekiti country home while addressing party members across the 16 local government areas and the 177 wards in the state.

    He expressed confidence that the party will soon regain its lost glory ahead of future elections in the state, noting the strength of the party would be restored after members would have settled their differences.

    While explaining that creating different groups within the party would not be the best option, however assured that all issues and tendencies would be resolved for the party to reclaim the state from the All Progressive Congress.

    Fayose, however, congratulated Senator Biodun Olujimi on her victory at the appellate court as the lawmaker representing Ekiti South senatorial district, saying she remains one of the leaders of the party in the state.

    He regretted the violence and alleged electoral malpractices that marred the last Saturday’s local government election where a member of the party, Forum Kosedake was allegedly killed by political thugs.

    He noted that the leadership of PDP was warned not to not participate in the poll knowing fully well the ‘antics’ of the APC-led government in the state.

    “Everybody should come back to the party. I am open to reconciliation. If Senator Biodun Olujimi call you for meeting tomorrow, go there and listen to her. All of us are leaders, don’t let us factionalize this party.

  • N2.2bn fraud: Again, Fayose gets permission for foreign medical trip

    N2.2bn fraud: Again, Fayose gets permission for foreign medical trip

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has again granted permission to a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for an alleged N2.2bn fraud.

    Following an application by his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Justice C.J. Aneke, for the second time, granted Fayose permission to go abroad for treatment.

    The judge had in July first granted Fayose permission for a foreign medical trip.

    The prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), did not oppose the Friday’s request.

    After granting the travel permission, Justice Aneke adjourned till January 16, 2020 for continuation of trial.

    Fayose is being prosecuted alongside a firm, Spotless Limited.

    In the charges, the EFCC alleged, among others, that Fayose, on June 17, 2014, “took possession of the sum of N1, 219,000,000 to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State, which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

    The ex-governor was also alleged to have on the same day “received a cash payment of $5,000,000 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the then Minister of State for Defence, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 1 and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.”

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

  • Fayose’s govt left N57bn unpaid workers’ salaries, pension arrears, says Fayemi

    Fayose’s govt left N57bn unpaid workers’ salaries, pension arrears, says Fayemi

    Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Tuesday said that the workers in the state civil service were currently being owed N57billion as arrears of unpaid salaries and emoluments.

     

    The governor said this at a meeting he had with the civil servants as well as a cross-section of labour leaders at the Government House, Ado Ekiti.

     

    He said that his administration was making frantic efforts to defray the backlogs which he said would be done in phases.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fayemi claimed the trend was caused by irregular payments of salaries and pensions by the immediate past administration of Mr Ayodele Fayose.

     

    He said the arrears covered outstanding salaries, pensions, promotion arrears, leave bonuses and other emoluments from 2014 till October 2018 when he assumed office.

     

    The governor also said he was not part of the people that were opposed to local government autonomy.

     

    He said the local governments in the state were currently being given unfettered access to administer their own funds without interference from his government.

     

    He said he would honour his earlier pledge to pay all the outstanding workers’ benefits.

     

    He clarified that some would be given immediate attention, while some would be defrayed by instalmental.

     

    He said, “It is sad to reel out such a homongous figure, because it can create panic for you and I.

     

    ” But let me say that we cannot pay everything in one fell swoop, but the 2019 promotion arrears will be given immediate attention while others will be defrayed by installment.

     

    ” It becomes difficult to pay once because Ekiti gets a little above N5billion monthly, with the state getting like N3billion, while the local governments receive little above N2billion monthly “, he said.

     

    On the issue of local government autonomy, Fayemi said he was never opposed to the idea of giving financial independence to the third tier of government, being the closest to the grassroots.

     

    “I am not opposed to it. Since I came back as governor, not even one naira of the local government money was being administered by me.

     

    ” I have allowed the councils to manage whatever comes to them.”

     

    Fayemi said that the state under him was considering alternative power supply option to shore up the one being supplied to the state from national grid.

     

    He said he was planning the alternative because the current supply was grossly inadequate and crippling economic activities in the state.

     

    He also said that he had earmarked some funds for the Ministry of Environment to undertake erosion and flood control projects in some towns.

     

    Fayemi said that this was because of the recent flooding that ravaged Ado Ekiti and other towns, of which many civil servants were major victims.

     

    He also said that he would discuss the acute shortage of manpower in the health sector with the Health Management Board (HMB) when it was raised by the labour leaders.

     

    He said that he would ascertain the actual statistics and how to fill the missing gaps in the health sector.

     

    The Chairman of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Kayode Fatomiluyi, had called the attention of the governor to the chronic shortage of manpower in the health sector.

     

    Fatomiluyi said, “Over 1,000 nurses were at HMB in 2014 during your first term, Your Excellency Sir.

     

    “But today, we have less than 500 to manage 22 health facilities across the state.

     

    “The Governor must do something about this,” he said.

     

    Some of the other labour union leaders in the state that attended the meeting include: Kolapo Olatunde of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Sola Adigun of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

     

    They also pleaded that issues that had to do with the benefits of workers must be given utmost priority.

     

    They urged the governor to use his connection as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to fast track the implementation of the new minimum wage for workers.

  • Fayemi pays Fayose’s appointees’ outstanding salaries, allowances

    Fayemi pays Fayose’s appointees’ outstanding salaries, allowances

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has paid the outstanding salaries and allowances of members of the State Civil Service Commission and House of Assembly Service Commission who were appointed by the immediate past administration of Mr Ayodele Fayose.
    Presenting the outgone appointees with cheques covering their outstanding remunerations, the governor thanked them for joining hands with his administration in serving the State; adding that their display of understanding and patriotism while serving with his government is commendable.
    Dr Fayemi who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Biodun Omoleye wished the outgone appointees well in their future endeavours. Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the outgone chairman of the House of Assembly Service Commission, Hon. Tunji Odeyemi appreciated Governor Fayemi for being kindhearted; adding that Fayemi’s gesture is uncommon and devoid of personal vendetta.
    Odeyemi said that the appointees had ealier thought that Fayemi would remove them from office since that was the norm but the governor was law abiding and retained them in office.
    “We are most delighted for an avenue like this. I must confess that this opportunity we are having today is very uncommon. When a new governor or government comes on board, what they usually do is to remove members of commissions and boards appointed by their predecessor not minding the laws establishing those commissions. But you have magnanimously retained us and now paying our outstanding salaries. As far as Ekiti is concerned, from 1999 to date, the opportunity we are having like this has not been very common. We are grateful to His Excellency for this”, he said.
    The former acting governor said Fayemi has demonstrated his commitment to treating all Ekiti people equally regardless of their political affiliations and has set precedence for his successor to follow.

  • Alleged money laundering: EFCC re-arraigns Fayose, gets leave to travel abroad for treatment

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged money laundering.
    His trial will, in effect, start de novo (afresh) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
    The court granted Fayose’s application for permission to travel to South Africa for medical treatment.
    The re-arraignment followed the re-assignment of the case to Justice Aneke after the EFCC said it no longer had confidence in Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who was previously adjudicating on it.
    The case was re-assigned after 13 witnesses testified for the prosecution.
    Fayose was arraigned last October 22 on an 11-count charge of receiving and keeping N1.2billion and $5million allegedly stolen from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).
    He was charged with his company, Spotless Limited.
    He pleaded not guilty to the same charge and was allowed to remain on the bail granted him by Justice Olatoregun.
    The prosecution opened its case last November 19, but the Chief Judge, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, transferred the case following EFCC’s petition against Justice Olatoregun.
    former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro testified for the prosecution, stating that he collected N2.2billion from ONSA for Fayose.
    Tuesday, prosecuting counsel Adebisi Adeniyi, who stood in for Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), did not oppose an application by defence counsel Ola Olanipekun (SAN) that Fayose be allowed to remain on bail.
    Olanipekun also moved a motion seeking leave for Fayose to travel to South Africa for medical examination during the court’s long vacation scheduled to begin on Friday.
    The prosecution also did not oppose the application.
    Justice Aneke ruled: “I hereby grant the first defendant’s application for the temporary release of his international passport to enable him undertake a medical trip abroad.
    “The first defendant shall return the international passport to the court on or before September 16.”
    EFCC alleged that Fayose and an aide Abiodun Agbele took possession of N1.219billion from ONSA to fund his governorship campaign, knowing fund is proceed of “stealing”.
    The commission said he received $5million from ONSA without going through a financial institution, contrary to the Money Laundering Act.
    The prosecution said he placed N300million “proceed of stealing” in his fixed deposit account.
    It was also alleged that he deposited N317million in the account of Spotless Investment Limited, a company he and his family own.
    EFCC said Fayose lodged N305,760,000 in his account when he ought to know the money formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.
    It added that the former governor procured De-Privateer Limited and Agbele to retain N719,490,000.00 in their accounts.
    EFCC said he acquired a property on Plot 1504, Yedsema Street, Maitama, Abuja from Rabi Kundili with illicit N270million.
    Fayose allegedly used N1,151,711,573 to acquire chalets 3 and 4, 6 and 9 on Plot 100 Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos in the name of JJ Technical Service.
    EFCC said he used N200million to acquire a property on 44, Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja in the name of his elder sister, Moji Oladeji.
    It was further alleged that he used N270million to illegally acquire a property on Plot 1504 Yedseram Street, Maitama, Abuja in the name of Spotless Investment.
    Fayose allegedly procured Still Earth Limited to retain N132.5million in its account for his benefit, EFCC said.
    Fayose pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
    Justice Aneke adjourned until September 16 to 19 and October 21 to 25 for trial.

  • N6.9bn Laundering: Fayose’s re-arraignment stalled again

    The planned re-arraignment of the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has been stalled again due to the absence of prosecuting counsel.

    Fayose was supposed to be re-arraigned today at the Federal High Court in Lagos, but the arraignment has been stalled.

    The former governor is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged N6.9 billion laundering.

    Details later…

  • EFCC unseals buildings linked to Fayose in Ekiti

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has unsealed some properties it allegedly linked to a former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    Men believed to be EFCC personnel in a white-coloured bus with the number plate – BWR 627 AT – with police protection, on Thursday erased the markings from the buildings with white paint.

    Although the EFCC personnel did not disclose the reason for their action, sources said that the development might be connected with the anti-graft agency’s discovery that the properties were sealed in error.

    EFCC had on November 22, 2018, sealed the properties in different locations in the state capital, marking them with red ink with the inscription: “EFCC: Under Investigation KEEP OFF ABJ-HQ FAFI.”

    The buildings include a block of two-storey commercial complex located opposite the Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission; the NTS Event Hall and Hotel, Fajuyi; Our Peoples 104.1FM, Fajuyi; and a building beside Spotless Hotel, GRA, Ado Ekiti.

    Others are a twin-building behind the Government House at the GRA; a two-storey commercial building at the Okesa Market; and a petrol station.

    Recall that Fayose had in a reaction through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, accused the EFCC of sealing houses belonging to innocent people in the state under the guise that they were linked to him.

    The two-storey commercial building at Okesa Market, owned by a medical doctor and former member of the State House of Assembly, Dr Samuel Omotoso, was among the sealed properties unsealed last December.

    Omotoso had personally removed the EFCC marks on the building, saying his action was consequent upon presentation of documents to EFCC to prove his family ownership of the property.

    When contacted on the development, Olayinka said, “We saw it like that and do not know the rationale behind it. We have not been told anything by the EFCC.”

     

  • June 12: Buhari honouring Abiola is to your shame — Fayose tells Obasanjo

    The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fasoye, has again criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for failing to honour Moshood Abiola throughout his eight years in power.

    Fayose made the rebuke in a tweet on Thursday. He said the honour done to Abiola by President Muhammadu Buhari is a shame on Obasanjo, as a fellow Yoruba as Abiola.

    Recall that Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election, but the election was annulled by the military government of Ibrahim Babangida.

    Abiola later died in detention five years later, having been arrested by the military junta of Sani Abacha for declaring himself president.

    However, President Buhari in 2018 recognised Abiola’s mandate by conferring on him Nigeria’s highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, reserved only for presidents.

    He also declared June 12, the day the election was held, as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

    Nigeria had celebrated Democracy Day on May 29 since 1999. This year marked as the first time the celebration happened on June 12.

    On Wednesday, Buhari also renamed the Abuja National Stadium after the late Mr Abiola.

    Reacting on Thursday, Fayose said: “Honouring MKO Abiola by @MBuhari is to Obasanjo’s shame.

    “It remains a sore-point of his political history that because of ego, Obasanjo, who’s the greatest beneficiary of the June 12, 1993 struggle, failed to honour his kinsman, MKO Abiola. So, I commend President Buhari”, he wrote on Twitter.

     

  • N6.9bn laundering: Fayose absent in court as new judge takes over

    The new Judge to whom the embattled former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose’s N6.9 billion laundering case has been assigned, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Monday adjourned till 28 June, 2019 for arraignment of the former governor so that the case can start afresh.

    When the case was mentioned, the EFCC prosecutor Mr Rotimi Jacob SAN was in court, the lawyer to the second defendant, Spotless Investment Limited, Mr Olalekan Ojo SAN was also present. Ojo told the court that he was holding brief for Mr Ola Olanipekun, SAN, Fayose’s counsel who was unavoidably absent, however, Fayose was not present in court.

    Ojo told the court that they were aware that the case had been re-assigned to another judge and that the former trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun adjourned till today, therefore they did not know what would be the outcome of the latest development, which was why the defendant was not in court.

    The presiding Judge, Aneke also said he was informed of the re-assignment late on Friday, and base on the agreement of the two parties the case was adjourned.

    The Chief Judge conveyed the transfer of the trial from Justice Olatoregun to Justice C. J. Aneke in a letter dated May 23, 2019.

    The letter reads in part, “I refer to the petition of EFCC on this case and your Lordship’s comments thereto.

    “It is apparent that the prosecution has lost confidence in the judge trying this case and justice must not only be done but must also be seen to have been done, I hereby transfer this case to Hon. Justice C. J. Aneke for hearing,” Justice Kafarati ordered.

    The EFCC before now, had called 13 out of the 15 prosecution witnesses listed in the proof of evidence which started last year November and had enjoyed accelerated hearing.

    The EFCC had, in a petition, dated March 21, 2019 and signed by the Acting Chairman of the Anti-graft agency, Ibrahim Magu, asked Justice Abdul Kafarati to transfer the case file to another judge.

    Magu had noted that the EFCC was withdrawing its confidence in the trial judge after the altercation between her and the EFCC counsel Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) in open court on the 20th of March, 2019.

    Justice Olatoregun had blasted Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), when the judge raised concern over the failure of the prosecution to tender the complete three pages of the statement of one of the witnesses.

    The judge noted that the prosecution was not doing a good job, saying, “Mr Jacobs, you dare not, you are not competent to look into my ruling, to evaluate my ruling, you are totally incompetent, whether you are a Senior Advocate or not.

    “You can only go on appeal, Mr Jacobs. Your mode of advocacy, I do not understand it, it looks like what do they call it? Jankara market.

    “You stand here to re-evaluate my ruling? You are incompetent to do that. You do not stand there with impetuous and re-evaluate my ruling. I have ruled, relying on two sections of the Evidence Act, if you have an objection, you go on appeal.”

    Justice Olatoregun continued: “You have no competence, carrying your wig with arrogance and we have a lot of young lawyers here. What are you teaching them. You stand up to a judge, re-evaluating the ruling of a judge. It will not happen in my court! You re-examine your witness; if you are not re-examining, then close your case.”

    A day after, EFCC petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking transfer of the trial of the case to another judge.

    Despite the EFCC’s petition, Justice Olatoregun continued on May 12, 2019, with a prosecution witness causing a stir in the court when contrary to his extra-judicial statement to the EFCC, the witness told the court that he did not move cash from Afao Ekiti, Fayose’s hometown on the 16th of June 2014 and that the two vehicles he used to drive in the bank he used to work were grounded on that day.

    The case was then adjourned till May 21, 2019 for continuation of trial. However on May 21, 2019, the trial was further adjourned until June 10, as Justice Olatoregun was said to be away on official assignment.

    Fayose was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on October 22, 2018 alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd on 11 counts charge of laundering N6.9 billion.

    He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court granted him bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.

  • Alleged N6.9bn fraud: CJ transfers Fayose’s case to new judge

    The Chief Judge(CJ) of the Federal High Court has transferred the trial of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, charged with alleged N6.9 billion fraud, to a new judge.

    The CJ, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, transferred the case from the former judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

    The action, followed a petition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking a transfer of the case. Fayose was arraigned on Oct. 22, 2018, by the EFCC, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offence.