At the sitting of the panel on Wednesday, Fayemi’s counsel, Chief Rafiu Balogun, who disclosed that he was entering a “conditional appearance” of “appearance in protest” for his client explained that Fayemi, who is now Minister of Mines and Steel Development, received summons of the panel but would not appear in view of circumstances that predated the constitution of the panel.
The Commission Chairman, Justice Silas Oyewole had objected to Balogun’s request to make an oral application asking him to make a formal application in line with the rules of the panel.
Balogun was ordered to file an application excusing the former governor from appearing on Monday, September 11 while it also ordered the appearance of Commissioner for Finance during the Fayemi administration, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, to appear before it on September 11.
This was after Balogun had prayed for an adjournment for Kolawole, who was summoned to give evidence on Wednesday (yesterday).
Counsel to the panel, Mr. Sunday Bamise, had earlier claimed that a lawyer, Mr. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, received the summons on behalf of Kolawole a claim which was vehemently refuted by another counsel, Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye.
Aribasoye argued that he, Olanrewaju and Mr. Tajudeen Akingbolu announced appearances as “observers’ at the last sitting of the panel and never appeared for Fayemi and Kolawole and never received processes on their behalf.
Justice Oyewole said record before the panel showed that Olanrewaju signed to receive the summons on Kolawole’s behalf which may not be to the knowledge of Aribasoye.
He said the panel was on a “fact-finding mission and not raised to crucify anybody.”
The counsel explained that the ex-commissioner was not properly served.
Other parties which appeared at Wednesday’s sitting were CASA Nigeria Limited, Securities and Exchange Commission, Jichengi Yuyan Limited and officials of Ministry of Works and Transportation.
No comments: