Fayose Arraigned Over Non-payment Of N900m Legal Fee

Former Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, was yesterday arraigned before a High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti over alleged N900 million professional fee owed by former attorney-general and commissioner for Justice of the state, Mr Owoseni Ajayi.

Ajayi who was the attorney-general of the state during Fayose’s first and second term tenures as Ekiti governor between 2003-2006 and 2014-2018 filed the suit on 17th December, 2018.

The claimant, in the suit with registration number HAD/113/2018, said he handled a total of 18 cases through his law chambers for Fayose, with each costing a sum of N50 million as professional fee, which he alleged were not paid for.

The cases, according to Ajayi, were prosecuted for Fayose between 2006 and 2014, which bordered on his impeachment in 2006 and the corruption case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, among others.

Ajayi in the writ of summon deposed to by him, prayed the court for an order compelling Fayose to pay the professional fee without delay.

He also sought an order compelling the defendant to pay 20 per cent interest on the debt from October 5, 2018 and 10 per cent from the day of judgement.

In his preliminary objection, Fayose urged the court to dismiss the case on the premise that it was statute barred, improperly constituted and that the claimant failed to comply with the conditions precedent.

While being cross-examined in court, Fayose who described himself as a full time politician, admitted to his statement on oath of April 16, 2019 that the suit was ill-conceived and lacking the legal validity to fly.

On his relationship with the former Attorney General, Fayose said “Yes, I knew him, he did some few works for me. Between 2006 and 2017, he was working with me and also keeping documents for me.”

At the proceeding presided over by Justice L.O. Ogundana Ajayi was represented by Bayo Idowu, while the former governor was represented by his counsel, Ahmed Tafa.

Justice Ogundana adjourned the case to December 13, 2022, when both parties would adopt their final replies and written addresses.