Battle for Ekiti: Murder they wrote

The acrimony between members of the two political parties in Ekiti State – the outgoing government of All Progressive Congress(APC) and the incoming government of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) – reared its ugly head last Thursday, when a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Omolafe Aderiye, was killed by suspected hired assassins in his Ijigbo area, Ado-Ekiti office at about 8.30 pm.

Aderiye was a strong member of the PDP  and an ardent supporter of the state governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose

The hired killers, wearing mask and said to have   dressed in police uniform, according to reports,  earlier visited the Olokemeji residence of Aderiye to fulfil their mission but could not locate him.  Therefore, he was traced to his Ijigbo office where he and some of his friends were relaxing.

Some buses burnt by thugs in Ekiti

On sighting their target, they (the killers) fired shots which hit the former NURTW on the chest.  At this point, he was said to have   made an attempt to run for his dear life, but he fell to the ground.  The gunmen ran after him and released more bullets.  Aderiye died on the way to hospital.

Aderiye’s assassination is the seventh in the litany of the political killings in Ekiti in recent time and they are mostly members of the opposition.

Others killed include Adeleye Awomulate in 2011, Kehinde Fajuyi in the same year, Mic Ipinlaye, Yusuf Abiola, Ayo Jeje, Juliahna Adewumi in 2013, Foluso Ogundare, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) from Emure Ekiti in 2013, and Akinola Abiola, who was killed few days to the June 21 governorship election.

Majority of the people across the state had expressed happiness that there was no single casualty during the June 21 governorship election in the state
Since the issue relating to the election is currently before the election petition tribunal, it is the hope of everybody that justice would be done at the end of the day

However, there was renewed tension in the state last Monday during a case instituted by E-11, a socio-political organisation, and the Citizens Peoples Party(CPP).  The case before Justice Segun Ogunyemi was to determine the eligibility of the governor-elect, Mr Fayose, to contest the June 21 election.

Proceedings were on when some hoodlums stormed the court-room.  A timely intervention of law enforcement agents on ground saved the situation, as the trial judge was spirited out of the court room.

The same story repeated itself on the third day last Thursday. That was the day the election petition tribunal was to commence the pre-hearing session.  Some hoodlums forced their way to the venue.

Though the governor-elect, accompanied by a handful of aides to the tribunal a little bit late and could not wait till the end of proceedings, the state Attorney -General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda, at a press conference later that day, claimed Fayose assaulted one of the judges in the High Court,Justice John Adeyeye ,a claim that was denied by Fayose.

The governor-elect said he was in the court premises as a respondent at the election petition tribunal.
“I was at the court as a respondent at the election petition tribunal”, he said.

“When l arrived the court,I went straight to the venue of election petition tribunal with a sizable number of aides.”The moment l noticed that the place was becoming uncontrollable, I went back to my office.  I did not meet any other judge except the three honourable justices who are members of the tribunal”.

Later in the day, the Chief Registrar of the court, Obafemi Fasanmi, issued a statement on behalf of the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, directing all the courts under the control of Ekiti State government to close until security of judicial workers was guaranteed

Meanwhile, Governor Kayode Fayemi announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state as   part of measures aimed at curtailing the crisis.
Announcing the curfew in a television broadcast on Friday, Fayemi said there would be restriction of movement between 7pm and 7am everyday till further notice.

The governor, who also announced the suspension of his ‘Thank You Tour’ of the state, urged the citizenry to be vigilant and provide security agencies with details of suspicious activities that could undermine peace.

Meanwhile, the Ado-Ekiti Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, on Friday, decried the Thursday attack on Justice Aderiye..

Also, the lawyers condemned the killing of Aderiye, a former NURTW chief by suspected assassins. Briefing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the Ado Ekiti NBA Chairman, Mr Joseph Adewumi, and  Secretary, Mr Gbemiga Adaramola, said the desecration of the temple of justice would not be condoned and should also be decried by justice and peace-loving Nigerians.

Adewumi said while the association was still feeling bad about the Monday incident during which Justice Ogunyemi was invaded, it came as a shock that a repeat of the ugly incident took place. On whether Adeyeye was holding court session when the alleged attack took place, Adewumi said the NBA could not confirm that.
On the implications of the siege on the judiciary, the NBA boss  opined that it could lead to   anarchy.