Ex-Lawmaker, Faparusi Wants NJC to Investigate Incarceration of murder Suspects in Ekiti

A member of the seventh House of Representatives, and Governirship aspirant in Ekiti State, Engr. Bamidele Faparusi, has described as “unlawfully and politically”, the continuous incarceration of suspects linked to the murder murder of the former Chairman , National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW)  in Ekiti State, Mr. Omolafe Aderiye, close ally of Governor Ayo Fayose

Specifically, the Governirship aspirant who accused Fayose of allegedly deliberately incacerating the accused because of their political link with All Progressives Party (APC) called on the National Judicial Council(NJC) to investigate what he described as “prolonged unlawful imprisonment”.

Faparusi, an APC who expresed concern over the families of the accused in a chat journalists  in Ado Ekiti on Monday, said those being tried by the State High Court over their complicity in the gruesome murder of the NURTW’s  boss were allegedly being victimized by Governor Fayose for their political beliefs, using the instrumentality of the judiciary.

The fomer Aderiye  was murdered in 2014 by unknown gunmen in Ado Ekiti and eight persons ,  who are known APC chieftains are being incarcerated in court on the order of Justice Lekan Ogunmoye
since December 2014.

Those being tried included: two former chairmen Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, Mr Rotimi Olabiwonnu(aka Mentilo) and  Bayo Adeyiye(aka Ojuigo), Mr Sola Durodola, Oso Farotimi, Ajayi Kayode, Sola Adenijo and Chief Niyi Adedipe(aka Apase).

Faparusi who had earlier visited and presented gifts to the families of the suspects , pointed out that the NJC as regulatory body on judicial officers in Nigeria must probe into why the accused persons were being imprisoned without justifiable reasons.

He said he decided to reach out to the families of the accused persons as a way of identifying with them at this trying time, when their breadwinners were being  imprisoned over allegation that cannot be proven.

“It is very unfortunate that Governor Fayose is using judiciary to take a pound of flesh against political foes. It was clear that these accused persons were being persecuted over trumped-up charges. As we speak now, no veracious evidence linked them with  the murder of Aderiye.

“Any country where justice is not being served stands the risk of violence, so NJC must do the needful in this matter. The court has been hiding under technicality to prolong their stay in the prison.

“The plaintiff, which is now the state government has been frustrating attempt to bail them out of the prison. These accused persons are notable people who cannot jump bail.

“For two times now,  the families had lost the opportunities of celebrating the Christmas and new year with their breadwinners and this was a great injustice which must be corrected ”.he added.