Ekiti Assembly imposes N1m fine on Fayemi for shunning summons

Ekiti State House of Assembly has imposed a fine of N1million on the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for shunning the three summons of the House.

The Assembly said it had invited Fayemi to explain how the N852 million Universal Basic Education (UBE) fund allegedly got missing under him as the governor of the state.

The House also resolved that a reminder letter be written to the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to effect the warrant issued by the House and arrest Fayemi with immediate effect.

However, Fayemi had filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti demanding N500 million damages over the colossal damage the Assembly had done to his image by the summons and allegation of embezzlement.

Addressing a press conference in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Samuel Omotoso, said it had become a public knowledge that the House invited Fayemi on three occasions spanning a period of one year.

Omotoso added that this breach of the law of the land is one too many on the part of Fayemi and that the Assembly condemned the act as well as all lovers of democracy and the rule of law.

He said: “Going from the above, this House today officially declare Fayemi as a law breaker and in exercising our powers under Section 129,1d of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, hereby imposes a fine of N1 million against Dr. Fayemi and payable to the EKHA.

“Section 129, 1d ordered him to pay all costs which may have been occasioned in compelling his attendance or by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons and also to impose such fine as may be prescribed for any such failure, refusal or neglect, and any fine so imposed shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.”