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 embattled lawmaker

Aribisogan described it as a “frame up concuted” to discredit him and tske 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

suspended and that he must not be seen in and around 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 by constituted by the Speaker of the

House, Rt Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole and submitted to the Ethics and

Privileges Committee of the House.

The panel had  investigated allegations bordering on gross

misconduct and acts capable of destabilising the House made against

Aribisogan by the House Leader of Business, Hon Tunji Akinyele in order

to adhere to principles of fairness and justice.

According to the House’s new chairman, committee on information, Hon. Samuel Omotosho, who addressed journalists shortly after the House’s session yesterday, Hon. 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 who have

constituted themselves as enemies of the State government and

presented false information for pecuniary gains, thereby casting

aspersion on the House.

Presenting the committee report to the House at its sitting yesterday, 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.

Other members of The 7 man panel include; Sina Animasaun, Dr Samuel Omotoso, Akinniyi Sunday, Dele Fajemilehin, Cecelia Dada and Fasanmi Temitope.

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.

Speaking further, Aribisogan, who 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.

“This is a complete scam and I am not befuddled in any way. I had been presumed guilty before I appeared before the panel , so I am not surprised. How can they be forcing me

to confess to offence I didn’t commit.

“I will consult with my constituents to know the next line of action.

The panel has compromised his position, because they knew the audio

recording claiming to have contained my voice was a fake and they knew

it , but because there was an unseen hands controlling  them, they had

to suspend me”.