Activist Lawyer Writes INEC, Demands Ekiti Lawmakers Certificates

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Thursday, January 12th, 2017

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja

ABUJA, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Activist lawyer Morakinyo Ogele has forwarded a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the copies of documents submitted by members of Ekiti State House of Assembly before the last general elections.

Ogele in a letter dated 11th January, 2017 a copy of which was made available to reporters on Thursday said he could be forced to file a court action against the electoral agency if the documents demanded are not made available to him within seven days.

The lawyer said he was invoking Section 1 (1) (2) (3) of Freedom of Information Act 2011 passed by the Fourth Assembly.

He said the Act allows for scrutiny of the lawmakers’ qualification certificates and forms completed and submitted to INEC prior to the 11th April 2015 State Assembly election.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is also investigating some Ekiti Assemblymen on alleged certificate forgery and racketeering but the outcome of the probe is yet to be made public.

The letter read in part: “I humbly request for the information of all the current elected members of Ekiti State House of Assembly prior to the last election of the House of Assembly.

“Certified True Copies (CTCs) of all educational certificates submitted to your office by the said members. All completed INEC forms completed and submitted to your office within seven days from first appearance of this letter.

“I am requesting for all these due to the poor performance of elected members of the State House of Assembly. Failure to accede to our requests may call for court action.