Ekiti panel ends proceedings, set to submit report soon on minister

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Ekiti State Government to look into the financial transactions of the state under the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi on Monday concluded its proceedings, promising to submit its report soon.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN), reports that Counsel to the commission, Mr. Sunday Bamise, told the panel that all the witnesses called by the panel appeared except the former governor, who is now the Minister for Steel and Minerals Resources Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

He said Mr. Dapo Kolawole, the Commissioner for Finance, under the Fayemi administration, as well as CASA Consult Limited also snubbed the panel.

Bamise said having heard from the witnesses, he urged the commission to close the public hearing so as to write and submit its report to the State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, who set up the commission.

The Chairman of the commission, Justice Silas Oyewole (rtd) declared the proceedings at the commission of inquiry closed.

NAN recalls that only last week, a High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti affirmed the legality of the judicial commission of inquiry, saying the Ekiti State Governor has powers to run affairs of his state and that he has exclusive rights to set up commissions of inquiry without the prompting of the House of Assembly and that he properly so acted.

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, who delivered the judgment in the suit filed by Dr. Fayemi against the commission of inquiry, said Governor Fayose acted pursuant to Section 2 (1) of the Commission Inquiry Law Cap C10Laws of Ekiti State.

He consequently dismissed all other reliefs seeking to set aside and perpetually restrain the Commission.