Fayose probe panel submits report, wants ex-Gov Fayemi to account for N2.75bn

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Ayodele Fayose to probe the financial transactions of the state under the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said that the former governor must account for the whereabouts of N2.75 billion.

The commission said that the N2.75 billion was allocated from the N25 billion bond obtained by Fayemi’s administration for the execution of contract for the construction of an Ultra-Modern market in Ado Ekiti, which was never executed.

The commission of inquiry also said that the contractor in respect of the furnishing of the government house built by the Fayemi’s administration should be made to refund a sum of N324.8 million, noting that the contract should not have been more than N280 million.

The panel said it found out that KITWOOD Nigeria Limited to which the furnishing contract of over N600 million was awarded had no traceable address and that “the address on the Letter of Award is a virgin land opposite the new Central Bank along new Iyin Road, Ado Ekiti.

The panel headed by Justice Silas Oyewole (rtd), made these and several other revelations on Wednesday when the commission of inquiry submitted its report to Governor Fayose.

On the purchase of vehicles, the panel said “Claim by Coscharis Motors that it supplied 235 and/or 250 vehicles was fraudulent and that fraught with so many contradictions.

“That Coscharis Motors supplied some vehicles outside Ekiti State especially, at Ibadan Liaison office when Ekiti State Government does not have a Liaison office in Ibadan. In respect of this, seven vehicles were supplied outside the State and signed for by unknown persons.

“That Coscharis Motors only supplied 219 vehicles to the Ekiti State government and that 17 Joylong Buses were supplied to the Ekiti State Government as gift but later carted away.”

On the controversial N852.9 State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) fund, the commission said it was clear that the government of Dr. Fayemi hoodwinked the Federal Government into paying its own matching grant by obtaining N852, 936,783.12 loan from Access Bank on November 25, 2013 without perfecting documentation in respect of the loan, thereby flouting the provisions of Section 11(2) of the UBEC Act, 2004.

In his response while receiving the report, Governor Fayose appreciated the panel and cautioned that asking people to account for their stewardship should not be termed witch hunting.

He said, “I appreciate the panel members for a thorough job done. The time and energy they put into the job. The panel waited for the outcome of the court case instituted by former Governor Kayode Fayemi before it concluded its job because we are ardent believers in the rule of law and if the court had ruled that we should stop, we would have stopped.

“There is no witch hunting in a situation whereby people are asked to account for their stewardship. Am glad that the Federal Government is also pursuing the policy of accountability and we are following suit here too.”

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Governor Fayose subsequently inaugurated a four-man administrative panel to study the report and come out with a White Paper. The administrative panel is headed by the Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kolapo Kolade.

Earlier, Justice Oyewole said though the panel was given three months to do its work when inaugurated in May this year, it had to bid its time.

Fayemi is currently the Minister of Solid Mineral and Natural Resources in the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government of Nigeria.

 

 

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