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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Civil rights activist and lawyer, Kayode Ajulo (SAN), has alleged that some officials in the administration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, were signing documents on behalf of the ailing governor.
Ajulo, who is the Principal Partner of Kayode Ajulo & Co. Castle of Law, stated this while featuring on Arise Television programme, ‘Morning Show.’
The senior advocate noted that the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, cannot take over from Akeredolu since power has not been transferred to him constitutionally, making way for cabal to hijack governance in the state.
“I have it on good authority as a lawyer. Some of the commissioners, about five of them, sent memos to the governor, and they all returned with approval.
“Going through the approval compared to what the governor had approved when he was hale and hearty, there are notable disparities in them.
“The Police and Administration of Justice Act has made it clear that there can be private investigators into the issue as such, and they have been contacted, but their results after the investigation are so damning.
“The purported signature is not from the governor. It is so apparent,” he said.
Ajulo maintained that the doctrine of necessity, which will allow the deputy governor to take over the reign of power till the governor resumes should be embraced.
He said there is a presumption that the governor is incapacitated, adding that the only way to counter that is to present him (Akeredolu).
“Why are some people sitting on the provisional constitutions? It is obvious that some people are holding the state by the jugular and using the present situation to loot the state’s wealth.
“DSS recently has been going around. Other security agencies should embrace the same. Questions bordering on the missing N7.5 billion in the state should be asked, and who gave the approval should not be left out.
“The governor owes it a duty to speak with his people if he can since his health status is being funded with the same taxpayers’ money, or he should do the necessary constitutional duties, which is to delegate power to his deputy.
“His deputy was selected by him and possibly his party members before he ran for office. I don’t think he would have selected someone he had no trust in,” the lawyer added.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had on November 25, waded into the months-long leadership crisis in the state, asking opposing factions to embrace peace and maintain the status quo.
But Ajulo faulted Tinubu’s intervention, saying the president was wrong not to carry the Attorney General of the Federation along.
“I say this with the fact that President Bola Tinubu today happens to have one of the best lawyers as the Attorney General, as a chief law officer that should advise him.
“This is someone I have high regard for. I am very sure and I want to believe he is not being carried along to advise him properly.
“The president has made a mistake. The president should have allowed the constitutional provisions to take its course. Ondo State people are sophisticated. The right thing needs to be done,” he added.
