NHRC Adjourns Sitting From Lagos To Abuja; Ekiti State Govt, PDP Not Ready

Agency ReporterMarch 28, 2018

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The National Human Rights Commission Public hearing about hate speech and pre-election violence petitions submitted by the Ekiti APC in 2015 has adjourned sitting from Lagos to Abuja on a date to be communicated to both parties.

The adjournment became necessary as the Commission acceded to the request of the respondents’ counsel who also doubles as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State, Barrister Kolade Kolapo.

He told the commission that he was not the AG when the issues came up so he was not familiar with facts of the case and has not seen the respondent and petitioner, the Governor in the last one week. He wanted to confer with the governor to know if he would come personally or send witnesses.

He thereby sought for adjournment of the matters to help him get the facts of the matter and study the depositions of the petitioners’ witnesses who were present in court. The commission suggested that the depositions of witnesses already filed at the commission and served on the respondents should be adopted while the respondents can thereafter do cross-examination at the next sitting in Abuja but the counsel the respondent pleaded with the commission for adjournment.

The APC in Ekiti State between February and April 2014 wrote series of petitions to the commission alleging Governor Ayodele Fayose as the chief sponsor of many attacks on party members in many towns across the state before the Presidential, State and National Assemblies elections. Many towns were raised by suspected Fayose thugs with many members beaten, harassed and maimed while there were shootings in the towns, driving many members of the opposition out of town. This was allegedly done in connivance with the then State Commissioner of Police (now AIG) Taiwo Lakanu who is also a respondent at the hearing. On the other hand, Governor Fayose also wrote a petition alleging the APC of killing one Olaiya Modupe at Itawure junction. In all, APC had three petitions while Governor Fayose had one.

Those present in court were APC witnesses including the APC chairman Ch. Olajide Awe while the Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Segun Adewumi who was alleged of pre-election violence in Erijiyan Ekiti was also present.

The petitions have been narrowed down to three main petitions by the National Human Right Commission after its first sitting in Ekiti on April 26 and 27, 2017 where victims of pre-election violence gave evidence against Governor Fayose and the PDP.

1. Alleged Pre Election Violence

Ambassador Gbenga Olofin (Deceased)

Ayodele Fayose

The case was struck out because the petitioner is deceased and there is no way a deposition can be made for a deceased person. It is also difficult to have witnesses. Though the case was struck out by the commission, it is still in the office of the IGP.

2. Alleged sponsors of pre-election Violence in Ekiti State

Omotoso Ayodele Paul and 47 others-(Petitioners)

Ayodele Fayose-Respondent

Taiwo Lakanu (AIG)- Respondent

Segun Adewumi- Respondent

Boluwade Adewumi-Respondent

Counsels to the APC, Biodun Fasakin and Tajudeen Akingbolu brought 18 witnesses out of which 13 had depositions on oath and were ready to proceed with the hearing but counsel to the respondents, Kolade Kolapo sought for an adjournment to enable him to get familiar with facts of the case as he was newly appointed the Attorney -General.

For fair hearing, the commission granted the request of the respondents and adjourned the hearing of the matter to Abuja in a date to be communicated to both parties.

3. The alleged sponsor of pre-election violence in Erijiyan-Ekiti

Omotoso Ayodele Paul- Petitioner

PDP-Respondent

Ayodele Fayose- Respondent

Segun Adewumi- Respondent

Boluwade Adewumi-Respondent

Eight witnesses were brought to the hearing with five having statements on oath.