Buratai: Civil Rights Attorney issues Fayose 7-days ultimatum to withdraw statement

A Civil Rights Attorney, Osuagwu Ugochukwu Esq has asked the Ekiti state Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose to, within seven days, retract his statement which attempted to cast aspersion on the person of the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen TY Buratai or face legal action. The attorney in a statement made available to journalists in Imo state said Fayose merely alluded to an alleged Dubai property belonging to Buratai’s spouse without furnishing further details on how Buratai became Corrupt . 

According to him, Fayose has seven days within which to provide certified and credible evidence to justify tagging General Buratai as Corrupt failing which relevant provisions of the Law will be invoked against him. He said, “I have watched with dismay on AIT today how Governor Fayose, without regard for caution, went wild castigating General Buratai as being Corrupt. 

Fayose merely alluded to an alleged Dubai property belonging to Buratai’s spouse without furnishing further details on how Buratai became Corrupt.” “I am yet to see any evidence presented by Governor Fayose over his labelling General Buratai as Corrupt. Or, does Fayose think he can just malign and injure the credibility of General Buratai and go scot free without providing evidence to substantiate the corruption allegation?” “Governor fayose fails to realize that he can be sued civilly  in his personal capacity in Court and can even be invited ,detained and investigated by the Police for criminal defamation? The constitutional immunity for the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors only protect them from prosecution in law court but not from been investigated.” 

“The constitutional immunity only shields President and Vice together with the governors from prosecution while on seat but not from been investigated.” “If the constitution allows investigation of a sitting governor, there is nothing wrong getting him invited and detained if there was enough evidence that  he has breached any part of the criminal laws including that of criminal defamation. A sitting governor can be investigated, invited and detained.” He said further, “Mr. Fayose can be detained and investigated by the Police. 

To buttress this point, the Supreme Court has held in FAWEHINMI v. IGP that any of the office holders mentioned in Section 308 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (the President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor) can be investigated by the police or  any other law enforcement agency for any allegation of crime or offence in office.” “It is a shame that while the whole world is busy celebrating the exploits of the Nigerian Army, General Buratai, the Air Force, and President Buhari, Governor Fayose is busy undermining this feat and making jest of the Nigerian Army.”