Ekiti Assembly suspends lawmaker over alleged disloyalty
The Ekiti State House of Assembly on Thursday suspended its former Chairman, House Information Committee, Gboyega Aribisogan for 180 legislative days for alleged anti-party activities.
Responding to the allegations against him, the lawmaker, Aribisogan described it as a “frame up concocted” to discredit him and take him out of the circulation for political reasons
“The so-called audio was a superimposed voiceover to tarnish my reputation. At the panel’s sitting, there was a presentation of inaudible voiceover claiming that they recognized my voice and I discarded it as a cheap blackmail.”
Aribisogan was also barred from holding any position of responsibility on behalf of the House of Assembly during the period of his suspension, all benefits associated with his office has also been suspended. The sanction, also barred him from the premises of the State House of Assembly within 1km radius.
The suspension was an adoption of the report and recommendation of the seven-man Ad Hoc panel constituted by the Speaker of the House, Kolawole Oluwawole delivered to the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the House.
The panel had investigated allegations of gross misconduct and acts capable of destabilizing the House, against Aribisogan by the House Leader of Business, Tunji Akinyele in order to adhere to principles of fairness and justice.
According to the House’s new chairman, committee on information, Samuel Omotosho, the petitioner, Akinyele had accused Aribisogan of involving himself in acts capable of destabilising the peace and orderliness of the State by allegedly having unholy alliance and relationship with those alleged to be enemies of the State government. The group circulated false information for pecuniary gains, thereby casting aspersion on the House.
The House’s new chairman, committee on information, Samuel Omotosho, addressed journalists shortly after the House’s session Thursday.
Presenting the committee report to the House at its sitting Thursday, Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Hon Fajana Ojoade, said it was established after thorough investigation through interviews, review of facts and unassailable evidence made available to the committee, that Aribisogan actually committed the offence.
The committee chairman said the Deputy Speaker, Hon Segun Adewumi also confirmed both in writing and orally that Aribisogan confessed to him at a popular hotel in Ado Ekiti on the evening of Friday, September 30, 2016 that he did meet with some elements that are against the State Government in Lagos on Saturday, September 24, 2016, “in a manner that has rubbished the integrity and confidence that the Ekiti people have in the State House of Assembly.”
“Hon Segun Adewumi also said that truly, Hon Aribisogan visited Lagos to connive with opposition elements in an attempt to destabilise Ekiti State. “Instead of showing remorse and apologising for his embarrassing actions despite all overwhelming evidences, Hon. Aribisogan persisted in his shallow denials.
“It is hereby determined and declared that Hon. Aribisogan is guilty of these allegations and should be punished adequately to minimize the bad image his shady movements and conducts have caused this honourable house, while also serving as deterrent to others,”
The report read in part. Adopting the report, the House at its plenary resolved that Hon Aribisogan’s office should remain sealed throughout the period of the suspension and that he should submit all properties of the House of Assembly to the Clerk.
Aribisogan, described his suspension as a confirmation of a rubberstamping nature of the assembly, said he would confer with his constituents on whether to seek redress in court over the matter.
Describing the whole scenario as a travesty of justice, the lawmaker said his suspension was a desperate attempt to emasculate him politically and rob the people of Ikole local government the opportunity to vie for the federal constituency election jointly held with Oye local government in 2019.
