Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has advised wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to wait till end of his tenure on October 16, 2018, to sue him for defamation on her alleged link with the Halliburton scandal.
Fayose, in a letter by his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, a copy of which was made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said he enjoys constitutional immunity from civil and criminal proceedings as governor.
The governor said the statement he made regarding the alleged involvement of Mrs. Buhari in the Halliburton scandal was “correct and justified in law, having regards to a court judgment convicting Mr. William Jefferson of bribery in the case”.
The counsel to Mrs. Buhari, Mary Ekpere & Co, had written to Fayose on June 22, demanding a retraction of the governor’s statement that her client (Mrs. Buhari) was involved in the Halliburton scandal.
The legal firm threatened a legal action, if the retraction was not made within five days.
However, Ozekhome said Fayose’s statement was correct and justified, having been factually premised on an existing court judgment.
The letter reads: “Our client has referred to us your letter of June 22, 2016, on the alleged defamation of the character of your client, the wife of Muhammadu Buhari, with firm instructions to reply to and reject same.
“Our client states and reaffirms that the statement he made as regards the involvement of Mrs. Aisha Buhari, in the Halliburton scandal, is correct and justified in law; having regards to a court judgment convicting Mr. William Jefferson for bribery in the Halliburton case.
“Therein, the name of the President’s wife featured conspicuously. On Page 22 of the judgment delivered by the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, USA, in Criminal No 1: 07CR209, Mr. William Jefferson was sentenced at 9 am on November 13, 2009, by Mark D, Lytle. Your client, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, was mentioned in the judgment. The judge referred to exhibits 36-87 in the following words, for clarification;
“See also Government Exhibits 36-87 (6/26/02 $170,000 wire transfer from account in Nigeria in the name of Aisha Buhari to an account in the name of The ANJ Group, LLC, identifying “William Jefferson” as beneficiary)… Given the age of the defendant, the severity of the sentence calculated by the Probation Office, the defendant’s frequent travel overseas and unexplained wire transfers from overseas locations to financial accounts used by the defendant, the defendant cannot rebut the presumption at sentencing that he is a risk of flight.”
The statement added: “Williams Jefferson is serving a jail term in the USA and to the best of our client’s knowledge, this judgment has not been challenged or set aside by any appellate court of law anywhere in the world.
“The statement of our client, is therefore correct and justified, same having been factually premised on an existing court judgment above referred to.”
On the immunity enjoyed by Fayose against civil and criminal proceedings, the senior advocate said: “Your attention is also drawn to Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered, on the immunity enjoyed by our client from civil or criminal proceedings for the period that he occupies the office of the governor of Ekiti State.
“You may, therefore, advise your client to wait until after October 16, 2018, when our client’s tenure expires. When that happens, we shall join issues with your client in a competent court of law, in the event that your client does not have a change of heart.”
...and you did not wait till 2018 to make such weighty of allegation.
ReplyDelete...and you did not wait till 2018 to make such weighty of allegation.
ReplyDeleteMr Abdullahi, don't you think Governor Fayose,was sure of what he said? If not, please think again, to avoid a situation where a holy cow would be making Governor Fayose a sacred cow. I think president Buhari is comfortable with Gov.Fayose previous criticism, but I think when he is not comfortable with Gov Fayose banning his kinsmen from killing his people and taking over their land as Mr president is currently doing with his islamisation appointment all over nigeria.Mr Gov. Failed to know that an attack on any fulani or Hausa is an attack on the North which is their president, please be offended sir, it's just my opinion, and am stand to be corrected if you can prove me wrong Mr Abdul.
ReplyDeleteThat is even if our dear governor doesn't run away b4 2018 like the past
ReplyDeleteHe said if aisha is clear she should go 2 USA, I concur she should go and let's know who's lying Fayose kip talking u are speaking d minds of many voiceless ppl.
ReplyDeleteHonestly speaking,I do not know why the buhari's like making things difficult for themselves.. Firstly,mr president was asked to produce his waec cert,he started hiring SANS and producing classmates...if I were him,I would just bring out an authentic certificate that will dowse the doubts of all and sundry,and that matter will have been dead by now...coming to the issue of Aisha buhari,she was accused of complicity in the halliburton scandal,the matter is very simple my people,if I were her,i will just visit USA,it's not that she cannot afford it,of course she can,she can even go with the presidential jet if she wishes to,it's that simple..then if she is not picked up,we can now call fayose a liar,and tell him to keep quiet..case closed,instead of towing the simple line,she started talking of a lawsuit...this people are just tiring honestly,I do not know why they like making a mountain out of a mole hill...
ReplyDeleteJust so you know..get your facts right before running your mouths..USA recently cleared the Aisha Bukari of the allegation...
ReplyDeleteI am not aware USA cleared her, the officer that was asked about it said he knew nothing about the issue. That doesn't absolve her of the alleged involvement in the Halliburton scandal.
DeleteHonestly too, you don't seem and sound like someone who understands what the libelous laws entail. The onus is not left with the accused to prove the otherwise, but, the accuser to his/her accusations beyond reasonably doubt. The president did no owes anyone to just enter his room and flash his school certificate to prove that he owns one neither does Aisha Buhari need prove her innocence by traveling to the USA. Both the accused and the accuser will prove their case in the court of law. The dye is cast, let's cross our fingers and wait.
ReplyDeleteOga you are still complicating issues...forget this court rubbish,this matter is a simple one..if you go to an organization to look for a job for instance,and they ask you to present your credentials for citing,will you tell your prospective employer to go to court with you,in other to prove you have the required credentials to get the job in view...oga park well abeg,I do not know why you people like complicating simple issues...
DeleteAnd mind you,you cannot say the president do not owe anybody an explanation about his certificate,because if you have read the Constitution,you will know what is stipulated there as regards the academic qualification you must have attained before you seek election into the office of the president...hence it's in the Constitution,then be owes Nigerians an explanation...
DeleteIt's unfortunate that Fayose has refused to learn from his past mistakes and act for once as a refined individual. His behavior as a tout is a disgrace to ekiti and Yoruba people, this accounts for why he can not sit in the council of state meeting with fellow governors but would rather send his deputy. Rascals should never again be allowed near the sit of power!!!.
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