An Ado Ekiti-based lawyer, Mr Dele Omotoso , who chaired the seven-man panel that found Governor Ayodele Fayose culpable of alleged graft and recommended him for impeachment , has been appointed a Judge of the Ekiti State High Court.
Fayose, who was elected in 2003 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, was impeached on October 16, 2006 by the then House of Assembly for alleged graft.
The elevation of the new judge had been approved by the National Judicial Council (NJC) since 2012 but the then governor Kayode Fayemi did not swear in the lawyer even when the NJC directed him to do so.
This came as Governor Fayose’s supporters on Friday stormed the streets of Ado Ekiti in protest, calling on the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Adewale Omirin, to drop the alleged impeachment plan against the Governor.
The Leader of the protest, Mr Patrick Ojo, said any attempt to impeach the governor would create an ambience of crisis in the State and that such step would be resisted by the populace.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Governor also announced Mr. Lawrence Ojo as acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, despite that he was reported to have signed the warrant of arrest against Fayose and also led the team that bundled him from Ikoyi Prisons where he was detained by the EFCC for alleged graft in January 2008 to Ekiti to face a murder charge filed against him over the killing of the late Ayo Daramola and Tunde Omojola.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Governor also announced Mr. Lawrence Ojo as acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, despite that he was reported to have signed the warrant of arrest against Fayose and also led the team that bundled him from Ikoyi Prisons where he was detained by the EFCC for alleged graft in January 2008 to Ekiti to face a murder charge filed against him over the killing of the late Ayo Daramola and Tunde Omojola.
The governor also pleaded with members of the state House of Assembly to cooperate with his government promising to take care of them "better than the former government."
Fayose vowed that he would resist any external attempt to destabilise the state, vowing that the interest of Ekiti was far greater than personal or individual interest.
The Governor said: "There is a difference between you and your position as the speaker of the state. I will look after you better than the former man you served. So if you fight me you will lose but if you work with me you will gain".
“I will resist any attempt by external force to destabilise the state. I am ready to work with the Assembly. I am a man of uncommon history, coming back to office after eight years is divine. I have a stern warning from God, not to avenge.
"I plead with the other two arms of government that Ekiti should come first. You may not like my face and I may not like yours, but Ekiti should be number one. Vengeance belongs to God and everything work together for good of all."
Fayose said his inauguration of Omotosho as a judge after two years of being cleared for the post by the NJC was a demonstration of a forgiving spirit.
He charged judicial officers to discharge their duties with the fear of God, promising that he would not muzzle anybody or interfere with their official conduct as there was nothing personal he had against the judiciary.
People would want to be where you are and life is about struggles. We need more judges and we will help in making them comfortable in the discharge of their duties. People said I should not swear him in because he sat on my impeachment panel.
“There is need for fair hearing. I want the other arms of government to give my administration a fair hearing and the chance to perform."
Omotosho, in his remarks, promised to abide by his oath of office and thanked the governor for the appointment.
