@ DW
As you know impeachment is a political process and is only legal to the extent of its constitutionality and adherence to its due process. I wouldn't dwell too much on legalistics as this panel is not a court of law. One mistake they (
indictees) all make is to assume that they are entitled to cross examine witnesses as obtains in the courts which is a fundamental premise of a "fair trial". He may even find that the panel will receive more detailed information than was availed him in the impeachment notice and thus his lack of indepth rebuttals could work against him. Basically the odds are stacked against him depending on who (
if any) is wagging the CJ's tail. The panel may choose to consider the written submissions alone and come to a decision. This unfortunately as we saw in Bayelsa and Oyo is another opportunity not for justice as we know it but for another "
wuru wuru to the answer". Worse for the governor, the proceedings of an impeachment are ousted from the purview of the courts.
What struck me in particular is that a letter from the governor of a state in Nigeria could have so many errors of syntax and semantics - "bellow", "iorta", "The notice failed to mention which account was diverted", "The said property was built from proceeds
on my legitimate earnings." etc etc. It is like reading some contributions on this site. But here comes another twist in this case:
Speaker protests as Ekiti CJ names panel on Fayose Governor, at Ekiti Assembly, denies charges
PDP urges due process
From Ifedayo Sayo, Ado-Ekiti, Mustapha Ogunsakin, Lagos and John-Abba Ogbodo, Abuja
BEFORE its take-off, the planned investigation of the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, and his deputy, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, may have run into another round of controversy.
As the state Chief judge, Justice Kayode Bamisile released a list of seven persons to investigate the allegations of financial misconduct, the state's Speaker, Mr. Friday Aderemi, raised strong objections to the composition.
It all came on a day the governor and his deputy visited the House and denied the allegations while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged due process in the impeachment process.
The panel, which is headed by a legal practitioner,
Mr. Remi Bamigboye, is to be inaugurated today by Justice Bamisile.
The other members are
Mr. Alli Apanisile, Mr. Sesan Adesuyi, Rev. Segun Da-Silva Ige, Mr. Olu Alade, Pastor Solomon Omoniyi Ajisafe and Mrs. Olufunmi Olukogbo.
But Aderemi last night told The Guardian that the team assembled by the Chief Judge were either contractors to the Fayose administration or relations of the governor.
Aderemi disclosed that members of the Assembly were last night meeting on whether to accept the composition or not and accused the Chief Judge of insincerity.
The Speaker said that the chairman of the panel named by Bamisile is barely seven years at the bar and that the team is composed of unknown people.
According to him, Ekiti is not a place where "unknown quantities would be saddled with that kind of assignment when we have people who have proved their mettle over time, with distinguished careers."
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, John Odey, stated in Abuja the party would lend support to anything that could help bring about peace, progress and stability in the state.
"We are really concerned but we cannot undermine due process of law. We can only advise that whichever way it goes, let the interest of the people be paramount," Odey stated.
Fayose earlier yesterday appeared before members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to defend himself against allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In his defence, the governor denied all the allegations, saying he believed that God would exonerate him no matter the judgment of man.
Fayose, who was accompanied to the Assembly complex by his deputy, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi and some of his personal aides, said the ongoing impeachment move against him and Olujimi was the first such case in the history of the country. He, however, expressed hope to triumph.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article01
It would however be interesting to know when the EFCC intends to bring charges against the members of the House of Assembly including the Speaker who may end up as the new deputy governor (
if not the Numero Uno) if the alleged villa's plans of a soft landing for the Balogun's congo are borne out.
Maybe I speak too soon and perhaps Fayose has found a way to survive this onslaught given the Speaker's protests and he may well survive. In that case, the Speaker and his fellow conspirators will be toast and the current wholesale programme of "impeaching" governors may just unravel. The stakes therefore are pretty high.
However and assuming that things go according to the EFCC plan, if the precedence of Bayelsa is anything to go by, the legislators may have shafted their constituents of N100m(
or whatever they received for constituency projects and whatever else) each and laughing at them all the way to the bank. Thanks to Nuhu and Obasanjo's warped sense of justice. The next theatre would be Plateau where things are no where as tidy as Ekiti for the Feds. Things are very likely going to get out of hand there. We hear that EFCC operations have also commenced in Abia State as well as in Zamfara. Enugu and Imo we hear are also on the cards. Enugu is a priority perhaps to pander to Ken Nnamani in his political tussle with Ebeano and to bring him (Ken) on side in the Obj vs Atiku roforofo fight. An interesting quote from that tussle caught my eye:
“The Federal Government has uncovered plans by the Atiku Abubakar group to disparage the entire members of the National Assembly who are currently investigating the VP’s indictment by the FBI and the federal government’s investigation Panel,” signed by Gbade Ogunwale (Special Assistant, Media), Office of the Political Adviser to the President(i.e. Akin Osuntokun)
.
But we already had this on record:
From the United States, a twist was added to the tale by the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Dr. Jendayi Frazer who reportedly described the probe of Vice President Atiku as "the handiwork of politicians who try to smear the reputation of opponents." She was also quoted as having added that "the request by the U. S. was for Nigeria to help furnish information on an American congressman, William Jefferson, who is being investigated for alleged corrupt practices, and not a case against the Vice President of Nigeria". Rueben Abati - Bolekaja(5).
Surely the American government would not say this about an Atiku that has been indicted by its own FBI? Could our government not just be spinning(
which is allowed) but telling outright lies? Are things that desperate for it or is it looking for an excuse for a security clamp down?
Aluta!
Gwobezentashi