Human rights lawyer and activist, Morakinyo Ogele has warned members of Ekiti State House of Assembly against blackmailing the Department of State Services (DSS).
He described the lawmakers’ allegation that some men who claim to be DSS officials offered a bribe of $1 million to them to impeach Governor Ayo Fayose as a “cheap blackmail and a serious offence” if they fail to prove the allegation to be true.
Ogele who spoke in a telephone chat with reporters on Wednesday said failure to provide the proof to back the legislators’ allegation against DSS could earn them criminal prosecution.
The Ondo State-based legal practitioner also condemned the House of Representatives for summoning the DSS Director General, Lawal Daura, maintaining that the Ekiti Assembly complex was not invaded by its operatives.
While maintaining that the National Assembly lacks the power to stop the DSS from performing its statutory and constitutional role, Ogele charged the security agency not to shirk its responsibilities to get into the root of the alleged impunity and constitutional breaches in Ekiti State.
The National Coordinator of Ekiti Reformed Group (ERG) also urged the Supreme Court to review the April 14, 2015 judgment which validated Fayose’s election on grounds that “the judgment was obtained by fraud.”
Ogele said: “This is a cheap blackmail and equally a serious offence if they fail to prove this allegation because it is trite in law that he who alleges must prove.
“It was the highest degree of impunity to invade court premises and beat up judges. It was equally on record that for almost two weeks, there was no access in Ekiti State because all roads were blocked by jungle criminals and hooligans.
“Both executive and legislative arms were involved in this crime against the state. Ekiti was branded as “Fountain of Riots” and “Desert of Decency”. People were chased out of their houses and they all became refugees in neighboring states.
“Are they preventing DSS from performing their constitutional duties, after they had constituted themselves to a security risk in Ekiti State, the government of Ekiti State jettisoned rule of law for rule of impunity, illegality and unconstitutionality.
“The majority APC members in the (Fourth) Assembly were chased from the state and only six members who did not form quorum took over. They carried out legislative functions which is contrary to the Constitution.
“Budget was passed, commissioners were approved by the illegal House of seven lawmakers.
“The DSS should carry out their constitutional duties in Ekiti State, they should ignore or disregard the call of the House of Representatives as they have no such power. The day of reckoning has come and whoever that was involved in rigging, corruption, thuggery, illegality and impunity should be prosecuted.
“Finally, I urge the Supreme Court to revisit its judgment in APC versus Fayose (governorship dispute) as the judgment was obtained by fraud.”
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