A Political pressure group in Ekiti State, the Save Ekiti Coalition (SEC) has described comment by the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, that his government had done nothing but to respect the independence of our judiciary as the height of hypocrisy saying; “Fayemi lacks moral rights to condemn any perceived assault on the judiciary because he is the number one hater of rule of law in Ekiti.”
While calling on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar, to probe the Monday’s attack on Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi of the Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi had said; “In the last four years, we have protected the courts, we have ensured that we keep a distance even when judgments are against our government. We have respected the judgments without taking it against the judiciary.”
However, in its reaction, SEC, in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, and signed by its Convener, Mr Lere Olayinka, described Governor Fayemi as an hypocrite, who always does the opposite of what he preaches.
The group said; “the judiciary in Ekiti State was treated with contempt by Fayemi and his men and evidences of his (Fayemi) disrespect for the judiciary are there for everyone to see.”
“When the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended the appointment of Mr Bamidele Omotosho as a judge, Fayemi, who is now calling on the CJN for help simply ignored the recommendation and refused to swear in Omotosho as a judge.
“When the courts ordered the reinstatement of sacked Local Government Service commissioners, State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) board members ,Civil Service Commissioners, Local Government Treasurers and Directors of Administration, did he respect the court orders and judgments?
“Therefore, it amounts to highest level hypocrisy for Fayemi, who never respect the court for one day, to now be sermonising about respect for the judiciary,” the group said.
While cautioning judges in Ekiti State to be mindful of getting entangle in political cases, SEC said; “any judge that is not willing to end his or career disgracefully must tread cautiously in handling political cases like the one causing controversies in Ekiti presently.”
