Political Party war in Ekiti deepens

Nigeria - The muscle-flexing between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, rocking Ekiti State, has taken a new twist, following a request by the state’s Ministry of Justice, asking the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, to re-arrest and prosecute some APC chieftains for their alleged involvement in some crimes in the state.

APC Vs. PDP

In the request, dated October 24, 2014, with reference no: MJ-AD-792-54 and signed by the Director in the Department of Public Prosecutions, Mr. A. O Familoni, the ministry requested for the re-arrest and prosecution of the state Chairman, APC, Chief Jide Awe; two members of the state’s House of Assembly, Hon. Kehinde Boluwade and Sehinde Ogunrinde, and the former coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in the state, Prince Adeniyi Adedipe among others.

In its own counter move, Ekiti APC, in a statement, by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said the party is shocked by the police undisguised support for Governor Ayodele Fayose so far in the crisis rocking Ekiti State House of Assembly.

Similarly, the embattled Speaker of State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, has debunked reports that the 19 APC members, led by him (Omirin) currently in Lagos, are planning to storm Ekiti State, today, with thugs from neighbouring states to cause mayhem, saying any break-down of law and order is orchestrated by Governor Ayo Fayose to implicate him.

Recall that the former Attorney General in the state, Mr Wale Fapohunda had in pursuant to powers vested by Section 211 (1) (C) of the 1999 Constitution entered Nolle prosequi to most of the criminally related cases involving members of the APC in the state.

According to the charge paper No HCE-IC-2013, in the case of State Vs. Hon. Boluwaji Kehinde and others, it was a case of alleged conspiracy to kill ,attempted murder and murder at Emure Ekiti on November 3, 2013.

Ogunrinde on the other hand, was arrested over alleged arson and assault at Isinbode Ekiti in the wake of election. The lawmaker was subsequently arrested, charged to court but was equally discharged based on the notice of discontinuance entered by the AG.

Awe’s case had to do with alleged malicious damage to properties, conspiracy to kill and attempted murder and murder which occurred at Erinjiyan Ekiti on March 30, 2013, when a gang of armed men invaded the residences of one Chief Boluwaji Adewumi and Gabriel Ojo. The gang fired gunshots which resulted in death of one Ayodeji Jeje and Madam Juliana Adewumi.

The attack according to the petition was allegedly in a bid to stop the defection of one Segun Adewumi of the ACN to PDP which was to take place the following day, March 31, 2013

Meanwhile, others requested to be arrested include Faboro John Ojo, Aniramu Bashiru, Falayi Busuyi, Owonifari Sefiu, Babalola Olomi, Olawumi Victor Fagboriola, Apolola Richard, Owoju Dele, Adeniyi Adedipe, Adesokan Adedeji (alias-Jaruu) among others.

Omirin alleges looting of his valuables

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, has alleged that valuables in his house were looted following invasion of his official apartment by Mr. Dele Olugbemi, the purported Speaker installed by seven PDP members last Monday.

Omirin said Olugbemi led thugs and the Clerk of the House of Assembly to the Speaker’s Lodge, forced the doors open and looted his valuables, including money and household material and soup in the deep freezer.

The Speaker scoffed at alleged looting of the Lodge by Governor Ayodele Fayose, saying that as the time he was living the house for Lagos, he left with a briefcase containing few cloths and shoes, adding that he never knew that he would not be allowed to return to the house after arriving Lagos and so there was nothing to give him a sign to leave the house with any loot.

By Gbenga Ariyibi & Ikenna Asomba