A white paper released by the Ekiti State Government has barred a former governor , Dr. Kayode Fayemi , from holding public office for 10 years .
The state also barred his former Commissioner for Finance , Mr . Dapo Kolawole , for the same number of years .
The two were barred based on the report of the Justice Silas Oyewole Judicial Commission of Inquiry which indicted them over an alleged mismanagement of the state ’ s finances between October 2010 and 2014 .
Fayemi , now a Minister of Mines and Steel Development , was the governor during this period .
The white paper declared them “ as unfit to hold any public office in the state because of their refusal to appear before this Commission of Inquiry , even, after the determination of the case challenging the inauguration of the Commission of Inquiry before the Ekiti State High Court.
“ Their disrespect to the constituted authority and the undignified roles they played in the whole contracts saga were obviously against the interest of the state they were supposed to protect . They are banned from holding public office in Ekiti and any part of Nigeria , ” it added .
Briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting , the Commissioner for Information, Mr . Lanre Ogunsuyi , said that Ekiti State was a pacesetter in the management of finances .
He said , “ Government views accountability and probity as hallmark of good governance . Therefore , the government decided to set up the Judicial Panel of Inquiry in line with its law enacted in 2012 . The government viewed seriously the report and it intends to carry out all the recommendations in the report . ”
The white paper mandated Fayemi and Kolawole to refund N 2 . 7 bn which was allegedly allocated for the execution of the contract for an ultra - modern market that was allegedly never executed .
It asked Fayemi and Kolawole to also account for the whereabouts of the N 468 . 6 m earmarked for the Ero Water Works from the Bond Prospectus which was not utilised .
The government directed the Ministry of Justice to take appropriate legal actions to recover the money .
It also accepted the recommendation that Fayemi and Kolawole “ should be made to account for the difference of N 340 m from the N 1 . 5 bn earmarked from the bond proceeds for the upgrade of infrastructure at the Ikogosi warm spring which could not be accounted for . ”
The white paper also asked Coscharis Motors to return 17 Joylong buses meant as gifts to the Ekiti State Government or in the alternative , the N 76 . 5 m being the cost would be deducted from the outstanding debt the state owed the company.
But reacting , Fayemi through his Special Assistant on Media , Yinka Oyebode , described the ban as “ a pre -meditated verdict ” and “ a joke taken too far . ”
“ While we believe it is part of the responsibilities of the state administration to look into the finances of the state at any point in time , we are also of the belief that such must be done in a very responsible manner devoid of prejudice , witch - hunt and a calculated attempt to victimise a citizen.
“ In this particular case , the entire process is discredited right from the beginning , as the only agenda of the panel was to rubbish Dr. Kayode Fayemi’ s public service record .
“ One is therefore not surprised at the recommendations of the White Paper : It only goes to confirm our initial position that the panel was compromised right from inception and targeted against Dr . Fayemi .
“ In his desperation , Governor Fayose chose the crude and ignoble path towards hitting a perceived political foe . In the process , they ignored the rule of law and behaved as if the court does not matter; thus making their actions subjudice to the court .
“ Fayose was however misguided into believing that he could pass a death sentence on Dr. Fayemi ’ s public service with the white paper . This is not only laughable , but ridiculous , as neither Governor Fayose nor his paid agents has the power to bar anyone from political participation .
“ The entire process and the character personae involved are discredited and since it is impossible to build something on nothing , legally speaking , their recommendation is not only null and void , it is ultra vire .
“ We urge the teeming supporters of Dr . Fayemi , the good people of Ekiti State and the general public not to be disturbed by the development. It is simply another act of illegality , from an administration that has elevated political debauchery to state craft .
“ It shall not stand . It is nothing but a joke taken too far , perhaps joke of the century . ”
Meanwhile , Governor Ayodele Fayose , has defended the government decisions in the white paper.
He said , “ We are doing what is right within the ambit of the law by appointing competent people for the assignment . We must be seen to be doing the right thing and it is not wrong to ask how the finances of the state have been appropriated within a given time and we are following due process
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