Judicial Panel: Counsel Wants Fayose’s Aide Punished for Contempt

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Lawyer to the Judicial Panel of Commission probing the administration of former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, Mr. Sunday Bamise, and a legal practitioner, Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye wednesday exchanged words over a publication on the state owned broadcasting service that he and others had been appearing for the former governor at the panel.

Aribasoye, who appeared in court when the hearing commenced last
Monday, frowned on the publication on the state owned radio and television stations that he appeared for Fayemi contrary to the true position during the proceeding.

The lawyer said though he actually appeared in court to honour the commission as a legal practitioner, he didn’t at any time announce his appearance for the former governor who is the current Minister of Mines and Steel Development .
Aribasoye prayed the commission to summon the Director General of BSES and Special Assistant on Public Communications to the State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, Mr Lere Olayinka, to come and show cause why he should not be slammed with contempt charge for misrepresenting the proceedings of the commission, taking cognizance of Sections 12 and 15 of the Tribunal Act 1960 that the publication was amounted to contempt and punishable under the law.

“This publication, to say the least, was callous, wicked and malicious. It was widely reported in most of the social media platforms belonging to Olayinka that I, I.k. Olanrewaju and Tajudeen Akingbolu appeared for Fayemi last Monday.
“At no time did we announce our appearance for Fayemi, and this publication was done out of share wickedness.

“As a minister in the temple of justice, this is disrespectful to this commission. The government set up this commission for a certain purpose and I see no reason why the same government should be doing this if not that it confirmed that this commission was set up to achieve certain predetermined goal,” he stated.

Countering the position canvassed by the lawyer, Bamise said the commission would only be guided by its records and not what the media reported.

The Chairman of the commission, Justice Silas Oyewole, said the commission is taking judicial notice of what transpired before the panel and that it won’t be swayed by media reports in taking decisions.

“We have our records and anything reported by the media or on social
media won’t be binding on us. So you can go and get the Certified
True Copies of our records, because for us to summon anybody concerning this, you have to swear to a written oath,” he said.

Bamise sought the prayers of the commission for the order of substituted service through publications in national dailies on Cassa
Nigeria Limited, Tuin Jin Nigerian Limited and Citadel nominees /yobab associates in Abuja, which couldn’t be reached via courier services in
Abuja.

He, however called one Mr. Adeleke Adefolaju, a Director from the
Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and two directors from the
Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Messrs Samuel Akinleye and
Sola Ogunmiluyi, as well Shittu Rotimi from General Administration
Department as witnesses.

They were called to give evidence in the transaction leading to the supply of 235 unit of vehicles by Coscharis motors under Fayemi’s government.

Lawyer to the company, Jiya Peter, complained that he could not
cross examine the witnesses because he was not served with the required papers by the commission.

Justice Oyewole thereby directed the witnesses to appear today for cross examination.