Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation; the Society for Rule of Law
in Nigeria (SRLN) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution
of former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti
State, Mr Temitope Aluko for depositing to false affidavit and giving
false evidence at the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its National
Co-ordinator, Dr Chima Ubeku, the SRLN said it was miffed that someone
like Mr Aluko, who by himself confessed to have committed perjury was
still being allowed to move around freely.
Recall that Mr Aluko was before the Election Petition Tribunal on
November 12th, 2014 where he testified on oath that the June 21st,
2014 Ekiti State Governorship election was free, fair, credible and
transparent. He also said that security agents, including soldiers
performed their duties without harassing anyone.
It was based on his statement on oath and the evidence he gave when he
testified at the tribunal that the court ruled that the police and
military were not necessary parties in the election petition and the
judgment was upheld by both the Appeal and Supreme courts.
Throughout the period that the matter was before the courts – lower
tribunal, appeal court and Supreme Court, Mr Aluko, in various
newspaper publications maintained his position that the election was
free, fair, credible and transparent.
If nine months after the Supreme Court, which is the final bus stop on
governorship election matters gave its final verdict on disputes
arising from the Ekiti governorship election, Mr Aluko is now going
about, singing a different song, it behoves on the police to arrest
and get him prosecuted for perjury.
To make this matter more interesting, Mr Aluko confessed with his own
mouth that he was releasing what he called secrets of how the Ekiti
election was rigged because Governor Ayo Fayose did not fulfil his
promise of appointing him Chief of Staff.
It is our opinion that if this clear case of perjury is ignored by the
President Mohammadu Buhari-led federal government because Mr Aluko is
now on the side of the APC, dangerous precedence that can consume our
democracy is being set.
It is therefore our demand that the Inspector General of Police should
order the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr Aluko. In the absence
of this, the Ekiti State Government, through the Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice should invoke its power to prosecute him
forthwith.