Ekiti State House of Assembly has committed a bill, Ekiti State Economic Crimes Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2018, to its Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption for further legislative action.
This was shortly after the bill passed second reading on the floor of the House at plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the bill to other members of the Assembly at plenary in Ado Ekiti, the Leader of Business, Hon. Olatunji Akinyele said the bill sought to curb corruption, embezzlement, fraud, abandoned projects, among others, in the state.
Members of the Assembly, including the Chairman House Committee on Information, Hon. (Dr) Samuel Omotoso; Hon. Jeje Samuel, Hon Akinleye Ekundayo and Hon. Titilayo Owolabi – Akerele canvassed for a speedy passage of the bill.
They said the bill would halt diversion of funds and eradicate all form of economic crimes in Ekiti State when it became operational.
Dr Omotoso said the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) clearly stated the functions of state Assemblies on state finances and condemned the incessant harassment of state officials by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) across the nation.
He recalled that a recent judgement by a competent Court in Ado Ekiti had called the EFCC to order.
Hon Owolabi-Akerele remarked that the eventual passage of the bill would check activities of internet fraudsters called “Yahoo Yahoo” across Ekiti state.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon (Pastor) Kola Oluwawole, described the bill as timely and stressed that it would lay a solid foundation as well as improve good governance in Ekiti state. Pastor Oluwawole, who stressed that the bill would assist government to improve on the dividends of democracy   to the people, charged the joint committees and other members of the Assembly to work towards achieving a speedy passage of the bill.
Pastor Oluwawole commended the state governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, for introducing the bill, noting that only a transparent leader could take such a step.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
