*****Ekiti assault fallout: Fayose’s inauguration threatened***** There is palpable apprehension in Ekiti State as the outcome of the meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) billed for Monday and Tuesday is being awaited. There are indications that the NJC may consider suggestions for its members to stay away from the governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose’s inauguration in protest against the alleged asault on judicial workers, especially a judge in Ado-Ekiti. The meeting is expected to, among others, discuss and come out with a resolution on the crisis in Ekiti State and the inauguration on October 16 of the incoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government to be headed by Mr. Ayodele Fayose. Opinions in the state are divided along political lines on the expected outcome of the NJC meeting chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alooma Muktar, especially as concerns heighten over plots to stall the governor-elect’s inauguration. The NJC was quoted to have promised to look into all petitions forwarded by the parties to the crisis and perhaps should be determined before the swearing-in of the governor-elect. Crisis began in the state on September 22 when a mob invaded an Ado Ekiti High Court to disrupt proceeding in a suit challenging the eligibility of Fayose to contest the June 21 election which he won. The crisis took another dimension when hoodlums assaulted a judge of the Ado Ekiti High Court in the court premises on September 25 on the last day of pre-trial in the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging Fayose’s victory in the court. In his reaction to the development, the Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, who ordered indefinite shutdown of all state courts until security of judges and the courts could be guaranteed, had petitioned the CJN, alleging that Fayose was behind the incidents in the court. And on the strength of that, the state PDP also petitioned the NJC and Muktar accusing the state Chief Judge of bias and plotting to abort the inauguration of the governor-elect on October 16. The PDP, in the petition signed by the secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko, and Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, had accused the state chief judge of planning “to give accelerated hearing to some suits challenging the eligibility of Fayose despite the notice of appeal and the stay of proceedings filed in respect of the suits”. People in APC circle believe tomorrow’s NJC meeting would pave the way for opening of Ekiti State courts and consequent commencement and delivery of judgment on Tuesday in a suit filed by the e-11 challenging Fayose’s eligibility for the governorship election. Their persuasion is that the matter in court would be in favour of the E-11 and consequent order of the court stopping Fayose’s swearing-in billed for Thursday.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 08:55:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015