Minister of Mines Kayode Fayemi barred from contesting elections for 10 years

The former governor of Ekiti State Dr Kayode Fayemi will no longer be able to contest elections in the country.

The State Executive Council Monday barred the minister of Mines and Steel Development from holding any public office in Ekiti state and Nigeria for the next 10 years.  The decision followed the acceptance of the report of the white paper on the Judicial Panel of Inquiry by the Ekiti State Executive Council.

Former commissioner of Finance, Mr Dapo Kolawole was also barred for 10 years.

“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, said  Commissioner for Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi.

“Ekiti State is a pacesetter when it comes to the management of finances. ”

“Government view accoutability 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 intend to carry out all the recommendations in the report.

” Other highlight of the white paper, the government mandated Fayemi and his Finance Commissioner to refund N2.7 billion which was allegedly allocated for the execution of the contract for ultra-modern market but never executed.

The government further directed the Ministry of Justice to institute appropriate legal actions to this effect.

“His Excellency, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Kolawole should be made to account for the difference of N340 million from the N1.5 billion earmarked from the bond proceeds for the upgrade of infrastructure at Ikogosi warm spring which could not be accounted for.

” The former governor and his Finance Commissioner were to also pay other monies running to billions of Naira to the state government coffers.

The ban was predicated on the refusal of the duo to appear before the commission even after the determination of the case challenging the inauguration of the commission of Inquiry before the Ekiti State High Court.

Fayemi had filed a suit, with number HAD/57/2017 against the panel, seeking an injunction to restrain the state government and the judicial panel from going ahead with the exercise.

But an Ekiti high court dismissed the suit.

The former governor rejected the constitution of the panel, headed by Justice Silas Oyewole, and alleged that its members were card-carrying members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The Ekiti APC last year dismissed the panel report saying it was a product of a premeditated script by a panel of Fayemi haters.