05 Mar 2006 |
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Governor Ayodele Fayose is indicted by a security panel, set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo over the killings and political violence in Governor Ayodele Fayose of All these were confirmed by a four-man security team, instituted by President Olusegun Obasanjo to investigate the political killings, thuggery, harassment and violence that characterize Fayose’s reign in Ekiti. The panel’s report, dated 18 September 2005, is hard on the Governor. In its verdict, the panel wrote: “(Governor Fayose) has zero-tolerance for opposition. He constantly sets in motion activities that will lead to violent acts and always travels out of town for his cohorts to perpetuate their violent acts without restraint and also create alibis.” The institution of the investigation team had its root in the series of politically motivated murders and violence that have, in the past three years or so, turned Ekiti into an Taye Fasuba, Chairman, Governor Fayose had revealed in a press interview that there was no love lost between him and Fasuba. In his words: “Taye Fasuba has been misappropriating funds in the local government. On 28 May 2005, Tunde Omojola, 31, a When the Governor came, his men took over everywhere. Goke Olatunji, Fayose’s personal assistant; Isaac Fayose, the Governor’s younger brother and some mobile policemen, seized Omojola (Labaika’s brother-in-law) and beat the daylights out of him. He later died in the hospital. With the coast free, Fayose dispersed his thugs to the different wards for free-wheeling thumb-printing. The same day, Fayose and his men were having what they later called “Democracy Walk” in Ado-Ekiti. The train deliberately detoured and ran into an A month after, Chief Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), raised an alarm that Governor Fayose was planning to assassinate him. The Ibadan-based lawyer alleged that he had four different text messages on his GLO Mobile line in the past two months. He explained in a letter he sent to President Olusegun Obasanjo: “My first reaction was to ignore them. However, in view of the concealed sender number and subsequent events, I was no longer comfortable allowing the matter to lie low…” Chief Babalola explained further that his problem with Fayose started over his (Babalola’s) comments on the attempt on Fasuba’s life. He further said the Governor had no right to have deducted funds that belonged to the local government. By that statement, Babalola said, he did not know that he had hurt the Governor where it pained most. On 13 June 2005, however, Fayose denied trying to assassinate Chief Babalola. “Chief Babalola is my leader and he will remain my leader. I will continue to respect him. Anybody who wishes him dead will have death on his head. I am a Governor and I know that everybody must accuse me because I am the one controlling their money. I know all these things will stop over time… I want to beg people like Chief Afe Babalola and Femi Falana to please forgive me if I have offended them in any way.” Fayose’s apologies notwithstanding, Mr. Femi Falana, on 19 June 2005, addressed a press conference in Falana revealed that on 26 May 2005, somebody phoned him after listening to the alleged threat by the Ekiti Governor, “urging me to take action. I did a petition to take to the acting Inspector-General on 27 May. I had a meeting with him in He added that a security aide to the Governor gave him the tape because “Fayose denied the plot to assassinate Chief Afe Babalola and that he wanted him (Fayose) confronted with such open threats to my life and those of others.” If Falana’s entreaties fell on deaf ears at the appropriate quarters, Chief Babalola’s petition did not. President Obasanjo reacted by setting up a four-man security probe panel, which released a damning verdict on the Governor and his aides. The report of the investigating team entitled, Update on Interim Report on Investigation of Alleged Threat to Life of Afe Babalola (Chief) By Ayo Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State, drew from sources it described as surveillance, record examination, elicitation and interviews. According to the report, investigation efforts began with the identification of Cottons Club, a recreational centre in The investigator also revealed that a source who frequents the fun-spot claimed that he overheard the suspected assassins perfecting plans on how to assassinate Babalola. Aside Cotton Club, the panel also discovered other spots allegedly used by the assassins as meeting points, where discussions were held in connection with their plans. Part of the findings was that an Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) stalwart was a ready tool in the assassination attempt on Fasuba and the planned assassination of the Aviation Minister, Babalola Borisade. The report confirmed the hired assassin was paid N250, 000 for the job. When he failed to carry out the assignment, his Isuzu Jeep was impounded by the governor. He was also present at the AD rally where the governor’s men clashed with that opposition party. The panel came hard on him, both in character and bearing. Besides being described as hard-hearted and foolhardy, the report also dwelt on the Governor’s intolerance for opposition. According to the report, the Governor “consistently sets in motion, activities that would lead to violent acts and always travels out of town for his cohorts to perpetrate their violent acts without restraint and also creates alibis.” It was also gathered that the Governor is most uncomfortable with the State Security Service (SSS) details posted to him because of the likelihood that such security operatives may not have good reports on him. Fayose’s love for intoxicants also attracted very generous attention from the investigators. “He is said to be a user of hard drugs, which makes him to be highly unpredictable and might have been responsible for some of his irrational acts.” On his relationship with his erstwhile deputy, Abiodun Aluko, the panel revealed that their strained relations culminated in the assassination attempt on Aluko on 14 May, 2005 and the subsequent impeachment move by the Ekiti State House of Assembly. Part of the former Deputy Governor’s problems actually began with the N1.3 billion allegedly spent on the controversial Ekiti Poultry Project. According to the report, N800 million of the said amounts was frittered away by the Governor through drainpipes such as Biological Concepts Limited. Aluko, it was gathered, incurred the wrath of the Governor when he insisted on due process and accountability. But the security report also linked Fayose’s propensity for violence to the many ugly incidents that have punctuated his administration in the last three years. These were the assassination attempt on Taye Fasuba, Chairman, Ado-Ekiti Local Government; the state’s orchestrated protest led by Dayo Okondo and designed to recall an assertive member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, an incident that resulted in the death of one Muyiwa Adeyanju, and the politically motivated attacks on Mobil Filling Station, Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti. Others include the illegal arrest and detention of law-abiding citizens like Joseph Adeleye Orisagbemi, the Atta of Aiyede, the unwarranted media attacks on Rufus A. Aladesanmi III, Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, the attempt on Okebiorun’s life over a political disagreement and the violence-ridden Federal Constituency bye-election at Omuo Ekiti in addition to the killing of Ekiti State College of Education students for protesting over the suspected removal of their provost. Above all, the Governor’s men allegedly operated a death squad. The security report also confirmed how Fayose terminated the appointment of two editorial staff of Ekiti State Radio for ‘ungraciously’ reporting Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s visit to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. For good measure, the investigators exhumed a decade-old family feud involving the Governor. His father had accused Ayodele Fayose of locking him (the father) in the boot of his car. Aside the planned assassination of Babalola, the report also listed seven other names of people with complaints on threat to their lives: MB Ogele, a lawyer; Senator Bode Olowoporoku, A. Akilaya, O. Oni, Babafemi Ojudu, Femi Falana, Abiodun Aluko and Afe Babalola. But the findings on the Governor’s aides are no less revealing. Chief Dayo Okondo, a retired army captain and former Chairman, Ikere Local Government Area, according to the report, maintains a terror machine that is dreaded throughout the state. In his statement, he claimed that the bloody clash at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) office in Ado Ekiti was mainly between the mainstream PDP and Lawrence Agunbiade’s faction. He denied the allegation that the attack on Gbenga Jayeola, Sehinde Daramola and other students of the However, the investigating team’s verdict on Okondo showed that the man “exhibits coercive tendencies and a pathological instinct for extreme violence which could have resulted from his military background in combat operations which was his specialization.” The report also referred to Okondo’s role in the death of seven people who lost their lives in 2000 at the PDP secretariat, Ureje, Ado-Ekiti during the party’s leadership crisis. The case of Olugbenga Jaiyeola, a petty contractor in Ekiti who was found in a bus belonging to the Students Union Government of the Ekiti State College of Education during the riots, is pathetic. He was shot in the thigh by Okondo. In spite of the recommendation of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and the subsequent white paper that his medical bills and the cost of N250,000 and N1 million compensation be paid to him, the Fayose government has refused to implement both. His sustenance, medical bills and cost of the artificial limb were, however, defrayed by Abiodun Aluko, former Deputy Governor. Okondo’s role in the fracas of 28 May 2005 during the inauguration of Ado-Ekiti Local Government Alliance for Democracy (AD) executive officials also attracted the panel’s attention. According to the report, Okondo, Goke Olatunji and the Governor physically took part in the violence that took place at the Okondo is also alleged to be in charge of an illegal training ground somewhere at Igbemo in Ifelodun/Irepodun LGA of Ekiti (Fayose’s local government) where thugs “are trained in armed combat, weapon handling and so on.” Isaac Owolabi Fayose, the Governor’s younger brother, gave useful information on himself and his activities. He claimed to have returned to Ado-Ekiti from Later, he abandoned one of his businesses, Valentino’s Buddy Nite Club in Ado-Ekiti, following the row between the Governor and members of his family. Though he participated in his brother’s political activities in 2003, the younger Fayose told the panel that he is apolitical, having stayed out of politics all his life until 2003. He also denied knowledge of the Ifaki incident, claiming that he is just a simple businessman who provides security dogs to clients like Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). But the investigators insisted on further probing the questionable circumstances under which Isaac Fayose returned to Adegoke Olatunji, Personal Assistant, P.A. to Fayose, is about the closest aide to the Governor. Since 2000 when he was introduced to Fayose by Demola Ojo, Chairman, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area in In character, Olatunji is known to be temperamental, a trait that is further re-inforced by his suspected use of hard drugs. They also confirmed that he was not only aware of all the alleged violent acts involving the Governor but also collaborated. Olatunji was described as incompetent and lousy. According to the panel, he normally uses the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and some policemen under his command to foment trouble. They were in the habit of indiscriminately using firearms around the Government House,Ado Ekiti and Orole Hotel in Ikere. They routinely shot into the air without any need, to create panic and fear around members of the public. Despite the P.A’s denial, his participation in the Ifaki by-election crisis that resulted in the death of Omojola is fully documented in the Ekiti State Police Command letter ref. No LBO 900/EKS/SHQ/VOL.IV/86 of 19 March 2004. With the CSO, he arrested Joke Ogunleye and her two daughters. Olatunji, who operates a foreign account, an action that is contrary to the nation’s constitutional provisions, also has a landed property in the He was found to be a collaborator in the Ifaki by-election, where he was “alleged to have participated in the assault on Omojola, which culminated in his death, the clash with AD during the Demcoracy Day Walk, manhandling of the proprietor of Friendlies Hotel.” Like the Governor’s P.A, Timothy Gbenga Joseph, Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Chief Security Officer, CSO to the Governor, is believed to have participated actively in all the alleged violent acts of Governor Fayose. Though he denied all the allegations and even lied under oath, security reports on him showed that he was appointed CSO under very controversial circumstances in the state, despite protest by the Ekiti State Police Command. The panel also gathered that he boasted publicly about his exploits and admiration for certain controversial operatives. “The CSO has been boasting that Hamza Mustapha was his mentor. In a bid to live up to the position of CSO, and be like his mentor, he has involved himself in unprofessional conduct and extra-judicial activities by collaborating with Olatunji (P.A.) to arrest, torture, harass and detain citizens of Ekiti State without recourse to laid-down principles of criminal justice administration.” He was linked to the arrest and detention of Joke Ogunleye and two of her children because of her husband’s perceived misdemeanor.” Joseph was also, according to the panel, responsible for the detention of Moses Olusola, Emmanuel Nidu, Sunday Ninu, Festus Akinola and Ogunmuti Ojo. Joseph was said to indulge in indiscriminate use of arms and ammunition without any just cause “by shooting into the air, to intimidate and threaten citizens in Fasoye’s CSO, according to the panel, lied on oath in all his presentations. He was also found to be responsible for the arrest, torture and detention of Gabriel Ojo, Ayodele Olowoye and Oludare Oluseyi “for allegedly defacing the billboards of Fayose before the visit of President Obasanjo to The panel, therefore, recommended that full investigation be carried out on his role in the plots to assassinate Chief Babalola and Falana. Worse still, Joseph was recommended for immediate redeployment. The panel, after its investigations, recommended that Goke Olatunji who “featured prominently in planning and execution of virtually all violent acts perpetrated…” be subjected to criminal prosecution immediately to avert his escape. Also, the Code of Conduct Bureau Tribunal, according to the panel, should look into Olatunji’s foreign accounts and landed properties within and outside the country. The panel said witnesses would testify against him on Omojola’s death. The Governor’s younger brother, in the submission of the panel, should be “prosecuted with others.” Moreover, the panel recommended further investigation into his finances both at home and abroad. The panel came down heavily on Okondo, “the arrowhead of all violent acts against perceived opponents within and outside the PDP since year 2000.” These include the killing of the five party members at Ureje, Ado-Ekiti; the death of Muyiwa Adeyanju at the party’s secretariat in Ikere Ekiti in 2004; the shooting of Gboyega Jaiyeola in the town; Omojola’s death as well as the murder attempt on Fasuba and others. He was alleged to be implicated in the possession of illegal arms and ammunition, and the training of thugs at Igbemo in Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government area. The security panel, therefore, recommended him for “criminal prosecution” and that he should be further investigated. Also recommended by the panel for criminal prosecution is Timothy Gbenga Joseph who, because of his prolonged stay in government houses in {mospagebreak} Also recommended by the panel for criminal prosecution is Timothy Gbenga Joseph who, because of his prolonged stay in government houses in
Apart from his role in the planned assassination of Babalola and Falana, illegal arrest and detention of Festus Akinola, Moses Olusola, Joke Ogunleye and others, the team advised that “Joseph’s activities should be further investigated.” For his role as the liaison in the alleged covert activities of Governor Fayose in Akure and The team recommended the following people for further investigation: Moses Usman (a former orderly to Okondo), who allegedly fired gunshots at students of College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti; Mobile Police Sergeant Shaba Usman (force number 164870), the orderly to the Governor’s wife; Thaddeus Aina, Chairman, Ido/Osi Local Government Area on Ifaki killing; Akin Olayisade (on the incident); Kayode Osho, Commissioner for Works and one-time Chief of Staff to the Governor (over the attempt on Chief Babalola’s life) and Dele Owoju, Osho’s associate. Others are Ajayi Egbo, Okondo’s driver who allegedly conveyed the assailants to Fasuba’s house; Olomofe, Osho’s pal; one Mr. Brown, Fayose’s uncle, and others. In
Peter Ayodele Fayose
a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j) k) i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. Attempt on Okebiorun’s life over political disagreement. ix. x. xi.
Goke Olatunji
a) Olatunji, apart from being the P.A to the Governor, is also a confidant and a prominent member of his kitchen cabinet b) Demola Ojo (Chairman Ibarapa Central LGA, c) Olatunji is temperamental and he is suspected to indulge in the use of hard drugs. d) He is privy to and a collaborator in almost all the alleged violent acts of the Governor. For example; i. ii. iii. e) Subject, the CSO and some regular policemen under him were alleged to have abused the use of firearms around the Government House and Orole Hotel in Ikere by firing sporadically into the air without any identified provocation or attack, all in the bid to scare members of the public. f) g) Abuse of office/privilege by indulging in extra-judicial process in handling of private matters, for example, through the assistance of the CSO he arrested and detained Joke Ogunleye (F) and her two (2) children because of the husband’s perceived misdemeanor. h) His involvement in the Ifaki by-election that led to the death of Omojola was vividly captured by the reports of the LGSC of Ido-Osi LGA and the headquarter personnel on special duty to monitor the elections. Please refer to Ekiti State Police Command letter Ref.NoLB0900/EKS/SHQ/VOL.IV/86 of 9th March 2004 and signed by S.A Hashimu (DCP) to the Ekiti State Command on the above subject matter. i) j)
Olugbenga Jaiyeola
a) Jaiyeola is a petty contractor in b) Okondo and his Police aides fired indiscriminately at the vehicles as it was approaching Okondo’s house. Jaiyeola was dragged out of the vehicle and shot on the right thigh by Okondo and another bullet fired by Moses Usman, a mobile Policeman, caught him on the left leg, which was subsequently amputated at Ido Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti. He was later referred to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) c) He gave evidence on his hospital bed in d) Subject’s life is currently under severe threat from Okondo and his hirelings. e) Jaiyeola is ready to be a prosecution witness of called upon. f) g) His sustenance, medical bill and cost of the artificial limb were defrayed by Abiodun Aluko, Ekiti State Deputy Governor.
Babatunde Adesanya
a) He is the Second P.A to the Governor after Goke Olatunji. b) He was the liaison officer to the Governor in c) He is suspected to be on hard drugs d) He was duly identified in a parade by an informant who picked-up the information about the plan at the Club to assassinate Afe Babalola (SAN) e) Adesanya and Olatunji handle the Governors imprest of between N1 and N2 million for the sundry expenses of the Governor in Ekiti State, Ibadan in Oyo State, Akure in Ondo State and in Lagos State where the Governor frequents. f) g) He was not in Ifaki and did not participate in the Democracy walk because he just got married then. h) He was commissioned by the Governor to recruit and coordinate those that were to assassinate Afe Babalola (SAN) should they choose to strike in
Niyi Adedipe
a) Subject was the former OPC coordinator in b) Subject was the leader of OPC (Gani Adams faction), which is reported to be violent; Adedipe was readily available for use for some violent acts by the Governor such as: i. The attempted assassination of Taiye Fasuba, Ado Local Government Council Chairman ii. Planned attack on Femi Borishade (Prof), current Federal Minister of Aviation that was later aborted. iii. Being the arrowhead of the iv. The fracas at Olujoda Hotel that resulted in severe wounds that were inflicted on the current Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. c) Adedipe has since fallen out with the Governor and has become disgruntled and if properly managed will be useful as prosecution witness. d) In the course of this fallout, the Governor has been using the Ekiti State Police Command to harass and intimidate him through seizure of his Nissan four-wheel drive, arrests and detention. e) Adedipe has no known source of livelihood. And all his support for the Governor is for pecuniary purpose. f) Timothy Gbenga Joseph
a) Subject is an ASP in the Mobile Unit, handpicked by Fayose in 2003 from the Security team of the Vice-President to become his ADC but was later given the CSO appointment, all to the discomfiture of the Ekiti State Police Command. b) Subject is not well grounded in the duties of a CSO and carries a rank too low to hold such a sensitive appointment of coordinating the entire security network of the State House. c) He cannot exercise command and control on security issues over the Chief Detail and the ADC because these officers are superior to him in rank. d) The CSO has been boasting around that the former CSO to Late Sani Abacha (Gen), Hamza Mustapha (Major) was his mentor. e) In the bid to live up to the position of CSO, and be like his mentor, he has involved himself in unprofessional conduct and extra-judicial activities by collaborating with Olatunji (P.A) to arrest, torture, harass and derail justice administration. Some instances are: i. The arrest and detention of one Joke Ogunlete (f) and two (2) of her children on 14th March 2004 because of her husband’s perceived misdemeanor. ii. Arrest and detention on 13th March 2004 of the following 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. f) g) His actions as contained in “E” and “F” above earned him a letter of reprimand Ref. No. LB, 0900/EKS/SHQ/VOL.IV/86 titled “Security Report General” of 19th March 2004 and signed by S.A Hashimu (DCP), a copy of which was sent to DSS Ekiti State Command. h) The CSO lied on oath in all his presentations. i) j) k) Arrest, torture and detention of the following three (3) persons: 1. Gabriel Ojo 2. Ayodele Olowoyo 3. Oludare Oluseyi
l) m) n) It is pertinent to note that no SSS security detail was on ground at the gate during the period under reference.
Clement Oke Owolabi a. Owolabi is currently a pastor at the Redeemed Christ Church of Nigeria, Ikere. b. He was the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikere Local Government Area between August 2003 and April 2004. c. He alleged that the Ekiti State Government sponsored a protest against Kayode Babade (Hon.) in December 2003 because he was the leader of the Ekiti State House of Assembly members who were agitating for a change of the principal officials in the House (EKSHA). This protest the Governor felt would have commenced the process of Babade’s recall from the House. The leader of the pro-government group was Wale Ayeni. d. He alleged that Dayo Okondo, an indigene of Ikere, was the arrowhead of the government plan. e. Babade resisted this move by organizing his own supporters on a counter-protest. f. As the Local Government Chief Security Officer, he expressed fear that the protest between the two (2) groups might degenerate into crisis. He, therefore, directed Daramola (FNU), Superintendent of Police, and the DPO Ikere, to detail his men to strategic areas so as to forestall the impending clash. g. He went further to consult with Okondo in order to prevail on him to withdraw the pro-government protesters so as to forestall loss of lives. Okondo refused, saying “no matter the amount of blood that would be shed, the rally must hold and whoever wanted to shed blood should do so, we are not bothered.” h. Because of the uncooperative stance of Daramola, Okondo threatened him with redeployment, which Okondo subsequently conveyed to the Governor. This led to his redeployment the same say and the compulsory retirement from the police service. i. While he was shuttling between the DPO and Okondo’s house, it was alleged that one of the assailants alighted from a vehicle that drove in from the Ado-Ekiti end of the venue, fired a gunshot and killed Olumuyiwa Adeyanju. j. It was discovered that the gunshot that killed Adeyanju was actually meant for Babade (Hon.). k. Subject further said he was reliably informed that Babade (Hon.) and some others present rushed Adeyanju to l. Subject is going to be a useful prosecution witness. Forwarded by Omoyele Sowore, Saharareporters.com
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