Former Commissioner for Finance in Ekiti State, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, has slammed a N20 billion suit against Governor Ayo Fayose and two of his aides for alleged libel.
Kolawole also sued the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, Central Bank of Nigeria and Debt Management Office.
Equally joined in the suit are Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Accountant General, Ekiti State, Commissioner for Finance, Ekiti State.
He is praying the court to hold that the outstanding sum of N11 billion being awaited as refunds from the Federal Government on Ado-Ifaki Road should not be given to the Fayose administration as the road was constructed by the Fayemi regime.
Kolawole is demanding damages of N10 billion each from Fayose’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka and a House of Assembly member for alleged criminal libel and defamation via the statement they made on a television and radio programme.
The two officials claimed that he and his boss, Dr. Kayode Fayemi plunged the state into debt to the tune of N85 billion that will not be liquidated until 2036.
Other prayers of Kolawole include an order mandating the EFCC (9th defendant), to investigate the circumstances for the diversion and breach of the appropriation laws of Ekiti State through the cancellation of the original contract i.e. Ikere-Iju-Ondo Boundary Dualisation without first ensuring that all laws and process of Ekiti State Government is strictly adhered to.
It also includes “an order directing the Federal Ministry of Power Works & Housing– the 4th defendant, to investigate the road contract relating to Ikere-Iju-Ondo Boundary Road, cancellation and breach of the appropriation laws of Ekiti State and stop further payments or reimbursement that is due on the Ikere Township Dualisation or Ikere-Iju-Ondo Boundary Dualisation, a contract validly awarded to China Railway 3 (CR3) to cover Ikere – Iju Ondo State Boundary Dualisation.
“An order directing that any further disbursement of bailout funds, Paris Club, Grants or other reimbursement due to Ekiti State being Federal Government palliatives shall be disbursed directly through a committee of EFCC, Accountant General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Accountant General of Ekiti State, Auditor General of Ekiti State and Auditor General for Local Government of Ekiti State to avert further diversion or misappropriation of such funds by Government of Ekiti State particularly the 10th to 12th defendants being good gesture of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Buhari.”
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