Fayemi served as governor of Ekiti State from 2018 to 2022. He was previously the state governor between 2010 and 2014 before losing re-election to Ayodele Fayose.
A former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has been suppressing 19 criminal counts he was charged with alongside his finance commissioner, Mr Dapo Kolawole, sources have told SaharaReporters.
Fayemi served as governor of Ekiti State from 2018 to 2022. He was previously the state governor between 2010 and 2014 before losing re-election to Ayodele Fayose.
He was appointed the Minister of Solid Minerals Development by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015, and was in office till May 2018, when he resigned to contest for a second term as the governor of Ekiti.
The 19 counts with charge number HAD/05c/2018, in which Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of stealing, abuse of office, and criminal contempt, among others were filed before the State High Court, Ado Ekiti on January 26, 2018.
Information sheets obtained by SaharaReporters showed that the duo were accused of misappropriating and stealing public funds amounting to over N14 billion.
This followed the report of Hon. Justice Silas Oyewole Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the finances of Ekiti State between 2010 and 2014.
According to the document, John Kayode Fayemi and Vincent Dapo Kolawole diverted the sum of N4,995,520,510.00 being the proceeds of Ekiti State Bond for the sum N20,000,000,000 (Twenty Billion Naira) earmarked for various projects in Ekiti State, in the Bond Prospectus titled 'Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Offer for Subscription of N20,000,000,000. 14.5% Fixed Rate Bond Due 2018 Under the Ekiti State Government of Nigeria N25,000,000,000 Bond Issuance Programme’.
It was added that the former governor and his commissioner of finance also misappropriated the proceeds of Ekiti State Bond for the sum of N5,000,000,000 (Five Billion Naira) earmarked for various projects in Ekiti State, in the Bond Prospectus titled "Government of Ekiti State Nigeria, Offer for Subscription of N5,000,000,000. 14.50% Fixed Rate Bond Due 2020 (Tranche 11) Under the Government of Ekiti State Nigeria N25,000,000,000 Bond Issuance Programme.
Meanwhile, sources told SaharaReporters that the charges were still pending against the former governor but he had been doing everything to suppress them.
“The charges are still pending against Kayode Fayemi but he has tried to suppress them thus far,” one of the sources said.
“This is the reason why no reasonable progress has been made on the case which was initiated about six years ago,” another source said.
According to the document obtained by SaharaReporters, the offence listed under count one for the duo reads: “Refusal to obey Witness Summons punishable under Section 13 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap C. 10, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2010.
“Particulars Of Offence: That you Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole sometime in 2017, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court refused to attend and give evidence before Hon. Justice Silas Oyewole Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the finances of Ekiti State of Nigeria between 2010 and 2014, notwithstanding issuance of Witness Summons dated 10/8/2017 on you; and thereby committed an offence.
“Count Two: Statement Of Offence: Attempt to prevent/defeat the course of justice punishable under Section 126(2) of the Criminal Code Laws, Cap. C.16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2010.
“Particulars Of Offence: That you Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole sometime in 2017, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, attempted to defeat the course of Justice by your refusal to attend and give evidence before Hon. Justice Silas Oyewole Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the finances of Ekiti State of Nigeria between 2010 and 2014, notwithstanding issuance of the Witness Summons dated 10/8/2017 on you; and thereby committed an offence.
“Count Three: Statement Of Offence: Criminal Contempt punishable under Section 133 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C 16, laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2010.
“Particulars Of Offence: That you Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole sometime in 2017, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to attend and give evidence before Hon. Justice Silas Oyewole Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the finances of Ekiti State of Nigeria between 2010 and 2014, notwithstanding issuance of the Witness Summons dated 10/8/2017 on you; and thereby committed an offence.”
In count nine, Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of stealing the sum of N179, 979, 441.77 being outstanding fund from the Ekiti State Bond proceeds sum of N335, 500, 000.00 earmarked and released for the renovation of Ado Ekiti Water Works, out of which only N155, 523, 558 was expended between 2011 and 2014.
Count 11 reads: “Stealing contrary to Section 383(1) and punishable under Section 390(5) of the Criminal Code law, Cap C. 16 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2010.
“Particulars Of Offence: That you Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole, while holding the offices of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State of Nigeria and Commissioner for Finance respectively, sometime between 2011 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did steal the sum of N468, 645, 000.00 being the sum of money earmarked in the Bond Prospectus titled ‘Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Offer for Subscription of N20,000,000,000. 14.5% Fixed Rate Bond Due 2018 Under the Ekiti State Government of Nigeria N25,000,000,000 Bond Issuance Programme’ and released for the construction of Ero Water Works; and thereby committed an offence.”
Count 13’s Statement of Offence reads, “Stealing contrary to Section 383(1) and punishable under Section 390(5) of the Criminal Code law, Cap C 17 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2010.
“Particulars Of Offence: That you Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole, while holding the offices of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State of Nigeria and Commissioner for Finance respectively, sometime between 2011 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did steal the sum of N2, 750, 000,000.00 being the sum of money earmarked in the Bond Prospectus titled "Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Offer for Subscription of N20,000,000,000.”
Count 15’s Statement of Offence reads: “Stealing contrary to Section 383(1) and punishable under Section 390(5) of the Criminal Code law, Cap C. 16 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2010
“Particulars Of Offence: That you Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole, while holding the offices of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State of Nigeria and Commissioner for Finance respectively, sometime between 2011 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, did steal the sum of N716, 688, 790.92 being outstanding fund from the Ekiti State Bond proceed sum of N750, 000, 000,000.92 earmarked and released for the construction of Ekiti State School of Agriculture, out of which only N33,311,209.08 was expended; and thereby committed an offence.”
Count 17’s Statement of Offence reads: “Stealing contrary to Section 383(1) and punishable under Section 390(5) of the Criminal Code law, Cap C.16 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2010
“Particulars Of Offence: That you Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole, while holding the offices of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State of Nigeria and Commissioner for Finance respectively, sometime between 2011 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did steal the sum of N128, 860, 023.00 being outstanding fund from the Ekiti State Bond proceed sum of N500, 000, 000.00 earmarked and released for the construction of Ekiti State Liaison Office in Lagos, out of which only N301,139,977.00 was expended for the said construction; and thereby committed an offence.”
The Statement of Offence for Count 19 reads, “Stealing contrary to Section 383(1) and punishable under Section 390(5) of the Criminal Code law, Cap C 17 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2010.
“Particulars Of Offence: That you Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole, while holding the offices of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State of Nigeria and Commissioner for Finance respectively, sometime between 2011 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did steal the sum of N681, 347, 255.22 being outstanding fund from the Ekiti State Bond proceed sum of N767, 970, 167.47 released for the renovation of Governor's office, out of which only N87,622,912.25 was expended for the renovation; and thereby committed an offence.”
The document also accused the former governor and his commissioner of finance of abusing their political power and criminal contempt.