Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Kabir Akingbolu has urged the immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Kayamo (SAN) to refund the salaries and allowances he collected during the four years he spent in office.
Akingbolu, a partner at Salawu, Akingbolu & Co. said it is shocking and disappointing that as a social crusader and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Keyamo could permit himself to be used to occupy an illegal office whereby he continued to receive illegal money for a whole four years.
Akingbolu made the call in a letter written to Keyamo, asking him to refund the benefits and salaries he collected when he served as minister.
He added that it is highly disappointing and leaves so much sad taste in the mouth that he can participate in such illegality.
Akingbolu’s letter was sequel to the statement by Keyamo during the valedictory session presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari to mark the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC)) meeting, where he said that it is an aberration to appoint a minister of State.
In a letter dated May 29, 2023 addressed to Kayamo, the lawyer stated that some people like him believe that the former minister only said so during the valedictory speech to get a better patronage or appointment as a substantive minister in the new government.
Akingbolu’s letter reads in part: “With utmost respect and humility, I write to you regarding the above subject. As citizens and ministers in the temple of justice and good governance watchdog, it is our civic responsibility to advance and advocate the entrenchment of the principles of the rule of law in the country for the purpose of strengthening good governance and constitutionality.
“Our attention has just been drawn to your sincere advice and recommendation to the Federal Government in your speech at the valedictory session presided over by President Muhammad Buhari to mark the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting, under his (Buhari) administration, at the Council Chamber, of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to consider appointing different ministers to handle individual portfolios since the Minister of State was Constitutional aberration, which further strengthened the position of an elder statesman Stephen Oronsanye’s white paper recommendation on public sector reforms in telling truth to the power.
“This act is salutary, laudable and commendable by all Nigerians for it is an act alien to the Nigerian political class. We are not much surprised about this based on your antecedents as peoples’ advocate who always stand by the Nigerian masses as a crusader for democracy and constitutionalism for the evolvement of Nigerian young democracy that continued to be mal-administered by inept successive government due to lack of political will to right the wrongs in our political system.
“It is our strong believe that your recommendation was borne out of your usual characteristics and sincere contribution to the advancement of our constitutional democracy which has been the bane of our political and economic development for ages.
“Arising from the foregoing is the fact that, since you have deemed it fit to stand by the truth at this time, belatedly though, by exposing the unconstitutional acts of governments for the sake of advancing our constitutional democracy, so, it will be improper, hypocritical and out of character for you to withhold the products and proceeds of this office not recognised by the constitution.”
The lawyer, therefore, demand that he immediately refund all the illegal and unconstitutional salaries and allowances paid to him as an appointed Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs and later redeployed as Minister of State for Labour and Employment for the past four years.
Akingbolu said the former minister should not have permitted himself to be used to occupy an illegal office and continue to receive illegal money for a whole four years. This, he said, is highly disappointing.
“In any event of neglect or refusal to comply or give attention to this innocuous demand, we shall be left with no other option than to file for Mandamus by approaching the court to compel the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to prosecute you for fraudulently enriching yourself with Nigerian tax payers’ money and in addition compel the Federal Government to expunge your name from government record as one of the former ministers,” he declared.
*(Courtesy, excluding headline, Guardian)
