Rights Commission probes travel ban on Gov. Fayose by DSS

 

The National Human Rights Commission said that it will carry out an investigation into the alleged ban of Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose from foreign trips except with the permission of the Department of State Service (DSS).

The Commission will also investigate the alleged disobedience by the DSS to comply with the judgment of a court ordering it to pay the sum of N5 million damages to Ekiti state House of Assembly for initially detaining their member for 18 days.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe who stated this when Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly brought a complaint on alleged ban placed on Governor Ayo Fayose from travelling outside Nigeria by the DSS and the alleged refusal to comply with the aforementioned court order.

Earlier in 2015, the Ekiti state House of Assembly had approached the Commission over the refusal of the DSS to release a Member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Afolabi Akanni who was allegedly detained for 18 days.

The Commission upon receiving the complaint then intervened and the DSS released him but allegedly failed to pay the N5 million damages till date.

In view of the above scenario, the Commission told the visiting state lawmakers that it would not hesitate to investigate the complaint since it borders on the enforcement of the fundamental human rights despite the fact that the matter is currently before the court.

To this extent, the Commission said that it would interact with the court to ascertain the situation of the matter with a view to establishing whether there was any impediment or appeal on the decision of the high court relating to why the damages was allegedly not paid.

The leader of the delegation and Chairman House Committee on Health, Hon. Samuel Omotoso lamented what it described as "another impending infringement" on the fundamental rights of Governor Ayo Fayose and by extension the entire Ekiti by the Federal Government concerning the alleged statement issued by the Department of the State Service (DSS) calling on the Governor not to travel outside the shores of Nigeria without their permission.

According to the House of Assembly’s complaint signed by the Speaker, Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole and received by the Executive Secretary, "A few weeks ago, our Governor was reliably informed that President Mohammadu Buhari had directed that he should be banned from travelling outside Nigeria. This reliable information was to be confirmed through reports in two major national dailies on Sunday, May 29, 2016 titled: "2 govs. under watch, face travel ban".

According to the complaint, "Our question is: If Governor Fayose has become a threat to the security of Nigeria just because he criticizes President Buhari and says the truth about his mis-governance of the country, what happens to Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which provided for freedom of expression and freedom to hold opinions.