‘’
FORMER minority leader Senator Biodun Olujimi has denied a report that Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi bribed the Ekiti Senatorial Tribunal and Appeal Court judges at her behest to reclaim her stolen senatorial seat.
She was reacting to an allegation made by a group of All Progressives Congress (APC) members led by Senator Tony Adeniyi that Fayemi unilaterally changed the venue of the Appeal Court sitting and influenced the judges to subvert justice in her favour.
Olujimi, who described the allegation as mischievous, slanderous and malicious, said she retrieved her stolen mandate not only because the election was marred by irregularities, but was also not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act.
The Appeal Court sitting in Kaduna on November 6 last year upheld the unanimous tribunal judgment sacking the candidate of the APC, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and declaring the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate Olujimi winner of the Ekiti South Senatorial election held on February 23.
Olujimi, the senator representing Ekiti South, on Thursday in a statement in Ado-Ekiti said the allegations that Fayemi negotiated her victory was not only an insult on her integrity, but also a calculated attempt to smear the pedigree of the judges.
She said her victory was a triumph of truth over falsehood and a reflection of the electorate’s wishes, adding that Adeyeye lost unanimously at the Tribunal and Appeal Court due to the proactiveness of her lawyers.
Olujimi hailed the judiciary for standing firm in the face of Adeyeye’s subterfuge by ensuring that the will of the electorate prevailed.
She urged Adeyeye to refrain from casting aspersions on the judges to create the impression that they were biased.
The lawmaker, who advised Adeyeye and other members of the Adeniyi-led APC group to withdraw their allegations, asked the National Judicial Commission to act swiftly and ensure they stand trial for maligning the integrity of the judges.
Contacted for reaction, Governor Fayemi’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, declined comments, saying: “We are not going to comment on that.”
