Ekiti AG denies allegations of human rights violation

The Attorney General of Ekiti State, Owoseni Ajayi, has denied the allegation of violation of fundamental human rights levelled against Governor Ayodele Fayose by the All Progressive Congress.

In a February 16 Petition by the State Secretary of the APC, Omotosho Ayodele, the party had urged the National Human Right Commission to investigate Fayose over alleged state sponsored pre-election violence in Ekiti State.

It also called on the Commission to declare the Governor as a person of interest in its investigation of election violence in Nigeria.

But Ajayi in a letter to the commission stated that the allegations were misrepresentations of facts, deliberately orchestrated by the APC on a smear campaign for political gains.

He stated that immediately Fayose assumed office, barrage of petitions inundated his office over flagrant violations of fundamental human rights, abuse of office and injustice meted out to the people of the state under the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

“Notable among them were the alleged murder of one Ayodele Ogudu Jeje by the State Chairman of APC, Chief Jide Awe and his cohorts on 30th March, 2013 at Erijiyan-Ekiti,” he added.

Ajayi said the Police investigated the matter and indicted Awe and four others, all of whom were charged to court for prosecution, “but surprisingly, the Government of Kayode Fayemi through its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapounda frustrated the case by filing a nolle prosequi against all suspects.

“Another notable incident was the case of the murder of one Folusho Ogundare by Hon Boluwade Kehinde, a legislator in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, elected on the platform of APC and eight others on 3rd November 2013 in Emure-Ekiti.”

Ajayi said the case was also investigated, suspects indicted, prosecution started but was truncated by Fapohunda who also entered a “nolle prosequi” in the matter.

The AG submitted that the violation of fundamental human right to life by anyone, however the status, should not go without redress, hence the Government had requested the police to apprehend all those allegedly involved in those crimes, who had been unjustly released to enable them face justice.

He regretted that those culprits had continued to evade arrest by the police and were currently using all forms of tactics and drumming up of undue sentiments to avoid being brought to book.