The
crisis rocking Ekiti State House of Assembly took another dimension yesterday
as its lawmakers suspended former Information Committee Chair Gboyega
Aribisogan for 180 legislative days.
According
to the lawmakers, Aribisogan’s action would“henceforth determine further
actions to be taken against him.”
The
assembly members adopted a report by a seven-man investigative panel chaired by
member representing Ido/Osi Constituency 2, Samuel Jeje, at a plenary presided
over by Speaker Kola Oluwawole.
The
report indicted Aribisogan, who represents Ikole Constituency 1.
Throughout
the period of the suspension, the assembly bar Aribisogan from holding any
position and “must not be seen in and around the premises within one kilometre
radius of the Assembly complex”.
He
is also not entitle to the privileges and benefits attached to his office
throughout the time the suspension will last.
Aribisogan’s
office will remain sealed throughout the period and he must submit all
properties of the House of Assembly to the Clerk.
The
panel had investigated Aribisogan on allegations bordering on “gross misconduct
and acts capable of destabilising the House”.
Other
members of the panel are Sina Animasaun (Ekiti West 2), Samuel Omotoso
(Oye 1), Sunday Akinniyi (Ikere 2), Dele Fajemilehin (Gbonyin), Cecelia Dada
(Ilejemeje) and Fasanmi Temitope (Ado 2).
Presenting
the panel’s report to the House, Chairman of the Ethics Committee Ojo Fajana
(Ekiti East 1) claimed that evidence submitted found Aribisogan guilty of the
offence.
The
lawmaker, who replaced Aribisogan as Information Committee chair, Omotoso, at a
news conference after the plenary, defended the assembly.
He
accused the suspended legislator of involving himself in acts capable of
having “unholy alliance and relationship with those who have constituted
themselves as enemies of the government and presented false information
for pecuniary gains, thereby casting aspersion on the House”.
He
claimed that Adewumi confirmed both in writing and orally that Aribisogan
confessed to him at a popular hotel in Ado-Ekiti on the evening of
Friday, September 30, that he (Aribisogan) met with some elements that
were against the government in Lagos on Saturday, September 24, ”in a
manner that has rubbished the integrity and confidence that the Ekiti people
have in the State House of Assembly”.
Omotoso
said: “Hon. Segun Adewumi also said that truly, Aribisogan
visited Lagos to connive with opposition elements in an attempt
to destabilise Ekiti State.
“Instead
of showing remorse and apologising for his embarrassing actions despite
all overwhelming evidences, Hon. Aribisogan persisted in his shallow
denials.”
Omotosho
said the punishment was to serve as a deterrent to anyone who might be nursing
same act to desist from it and also show that “we want to live above board in
our ways. Aribisogan remains our brother and we are quick to forgive if he
shows remorse and genuineness to change.”
Addressing
a news conference at another location in Ado-Ekiti, Aribisogan said he was not
surprised by the outcome of the panel and his suspension by his colleagues,
which he traced to “an unseen hand from outside”.
The
embattled lawmaker wondered why the Deputy Speaker, Olusegun Adewumi (Ekiti
West 1), with whom he was accused of holding secret meetings with Senator
Buruji Kashamu, presidential aide Babafemi Ojudu and Lagos lawyer Femi Falana,
was left out of the probe and punishment.
Aribisogan
alleged that the panel compromised its position by using his co-accused person,
the deputy speaker as a prosecution witness against him in a bid to nail him at
all cost to arrive at a predetermined conclusion.
Aribisogan
said: “I saw the entire process as a scam and travesty of justice; they didn’t
have enough evidence to nail me but an unseen hand was behind all these
shenanigans to arrive at a predetermined conclusion.
“The
committee has compromised its position because what transpired at the panel was
not what was in their report. Everything was originated by one person and
executed by one person.
“I
have enough reasons to believe that it is a plot to pull me down and I am not
surprised by the outcome because I know the judgment had been written well
ahead of time. You claim that I went to Buruji with two other colleagues, why
was I the only person singled out?
“The
Deputy Speaker with whom I was accused of going to Lagos to hold secret
meetings with some people was left out and they used him as a prosecution
witness against me. Somebody that I never went anywhere with being coerced to
testify against me?
“Suddenly,
the Deputy Speaker who they also alleged travelled to Lagos with me has been
exonerated. There is more to it to nail me and destabilize my political
constituency…
“I
know that God will vindicate me and I know that the truth will prevail at the
end.”
Source:The
Nation
Tags
Society