Following his earlier widely reported letter to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on 15th February, 2024 demanding immediate compliance with Section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration) Act, 2017, which guarantees financial autonomy for the State House of Assembly and the State Judiciary, an Akure based Lawyer, Barr. Femi Emodamori has given the Governor seven days ultimatum to comply with the said law or face legal action.
The lawyer also issued the ultimatum to the Attorney-General (Kayode Ajulo, SAN) and the Accountant-General of the state.
This is contained in the latest letter written to the Governor by the lawyer.
“Following my widely reported letter to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on 15th February, 2024 demanding immediate compliance with Section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration) Act, 2017, which guarantees financial autonomy for the State House of Assembly and Judiciary, I have today, 5th March 2024, given the Governor, the Attorney-General (Kayode Ajulo, SAN) and the Accountant-General seven days to supply me evidence of compliance with the said law or face legal action at the expiration of the ultimatum.
“I have today, 5th March 2024, given the Governor, the Attorney-General (Kayode Ajulo, SAN) and the Accountant-General seven days to supply me evidence of compliance with the said law or face legal action at the expiration of the ultimatum.”
Below is the full text of the letter;
5th March, 2024
Our Ref: FEE/GOV/ODS/I.003/024
His Excellency,
Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa
The Governor of Ondo State Governor’s Office, Alagbaka G.R.A Akure.
Your Excellency,
RE: A CALL TO STOP FINANCIALLY SUFFOCATING THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AND THE JUDICIARY AND ENFORCE THEIR FINANCIAL
AUTONOMY TOTALLY, AS STIPULATED IN THE 1999 CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF ONDO STATE.
Sequel to my earlier letter with reference number FEE/GOV/ODS/I.002/024 dated 15th February, 2024 to Your Excellency on the above subject matter, I respectfully demand to know, pursuant to Section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, whether the Ondo State Government under your administration has complied, or is complying, with Section 121 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration Act) 2017, by paying directly to the Ondo State Judiciary and the State House of Assembly, monies standing to their credit in the State Consolidated Revenue Fund and captured in their respective budgets for this year. In the case of the State Judiciary, I also seek to know, in addition or in the alternative to the above, whether your administration has complied, or is complying, with Section 2(1) of the Ondo State Judiciary Self-Accounting Law, Cap. 71, Vol. 2, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, by paying into the Ondo State Judiciary Account in advance for every quarter of the year, that is to say, in January, April, July, and October every year, monies due to the State Judiciary by way of statutory allocation for recurrent expenditure pro rata for that quarter.
I also respectfully request that Your Excellency should graciously supply
me, within seven (7) days from the date of this letter, the certified true
copies of documents evidencing your administration’s compliance with the
above laws guaranteeing the financial autonomy of the State Judiciary and
the House of Assembly, if any.
In the event that Your Excellency is unable to provide satisfactory
information backed by corroborative documents as requested above, or
cause same to be provided by any public officer so directed by Your
Excellency, in line with the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, I shall be
compelled to institute an action in Court to seek compliance with aforesaid constitutional provisions or laws guaranteeing the financial autonomy of the State Judiciary and House of Assembly, immediately after the expiration of the seven (7) day ultimatum.
Please accept the assurance of my highest esteem, Your Excellency.
Yours faithfully
Femi Emmanuel Emodamori
Cc:
- The Right Hon. Speaker Ondo State House of Assembly State House of Asembly Complex Alagbaka GRA, Akure.
- The Hon. Chief Judge of Ondo State Office of the Hon. Chief Judge Ondo State High Court Complex Hospital Road, Akure.
The Right Hon. Speaker/My Lord, the Hon. Chief Judge, The above is for your information, please.
