• Ex-gov rejects verdict
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Ekiti State Government to look into the financial transactions of the state, during the administration of DR. Kayode Fayemi, has said that the former governor must account for the whereabouts of N2.75 billion allocated from the N25 billion bond obtained by the government, for the execution of contract for the construction of Ultra-Modern market in Ado Ekiti, which was never executed.
The commission of inquiry also said the contractor, in respect of the furnishing of the government house built by the Fayemi administration should be made to refund N324.8 million, noting that the contract should not have been more than N280 million. The panel said it found out that KITWOOD Nigeria Limited to which the furnishing contract of over N600 million was awarded had no traceable address and that “the address on the Letter of Award is a virgin land at opposite the new Central Bank along new Iyin Road, Ado Ekiti.
These and several other revelations were made known when the commission of inquiry submitted its report to the Governor Ayodele Fayose. The panel was headed by a retired judge, Silas Oyewole.
On the purchase of vehicles, the panel said “claims by Coscharis Motors that it supplied 235 and/or 250 vehicles was fraudulent and fraught with so many contradictions… Coscharis Motors supplied some vehicles outside Ekiti State especially, at Ibadan Liaison office when Ekiti State Government does not have a Liaison office in Ibadan. In respect of this, seven vehicles were supplied outside the State and signed for by unknown persons.
On the controversial N852.9 million State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) fund, the commission said it was clear that Fayemi’s government hoodwinked the federal government into paying its own matching grant by obtaining N852, 936,783.12 loan a second generation bank on November 25, 2013 without perfecting documentation in respect of the loan, thereby flouting the provisions of Section 11(2) of the UBEC Act, 2004.
While receiving the report, Governor Fayose said asking people to account for their stewardship should not be termed witch hunting, as leaders must be accountable and that Ekiti people have the inalienable right to know how their commonwealth was being used.
“I appreciate the panel members for a thorough job done. The time and energy they put into the job. The panel waited for the outcome of the court case instituted by former Governor Kayode Fayemi before it concluded its job because we are ardent believers in the rule of law and if the court had ruled that we should stop, we would have stopped.
“There is no witch hunting in a situation whereby people are asked to account for their stewardship. Am glad that the federal government is also pursuing the policy of accountability and we are following suit here too,” he said.
Governor Fayose subsequently inaugurated a four-member administrative panel to study the report and come out with a White Paper.
But, Fayemi has rejected the verdict of a High Court in Ekiti, which affirmed the legality of the Ekiti State Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing his tenure.
He also denounced the report of the commission, which found him culpable in the misappropriation of over N2 billion state funds.
Fayemi said his lawyers have perfected their papers on the appeal of the judgment, saying the lower court’s decision would certainly be upturned.