Fayose's Ex AG Sues Him Over Unpaid N900m Legal Fees

 Former Ekiti State Governor Mr. Ayo Fayose has been dragged before an Ekiti High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti by the state former Attorney general and commissioner for Justice Mr Owoseni Ajay

Mr. Ajayi is suing his former boss for allegedly owing him the sum of N900 million in professional fees.

Ajayi, who was Fayose’s AG during his first and second term tenures as Ekiti Governor, filed the suit on December 17, 2018.

In the suit with registration number HAD/113/2018, Ajayi said that he, through his law chambers, handled 18 personal cases for Fayose, with each costing N50 million as a professional fee, which he alleged the former Governor failed to pay for.

He said the cases, which bordered on Fayose’s impeachment in 2006 and the corruption suit filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, among others, were prosecuted between 2006 and 2014.

Ajayi, also prayed to the court for “an order compelling Fayose to pay the professional fee without delay,” also sought “an order compelling the defendant (Fayose) to pay 20 per cent interest on the debt from October 5, 2018, and 10 per cent from the day of judgment.”

Fayose, in his preliminary objection, 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.

Answering questions during cross-examination on Tuesday as the court resumes seating on the matter, Fayose, who described himself as a full-time politician, admitted in his April 16, 2019 statement on oath that the suit was ill-conceived and lacked the legal validity to file.

On his relationship with the former AG, Fayose said, “Yes, I know him. He did some work for me. Between 2006 and 2017, he worked with me and kept documents for me.”

Ajayi was represented by Bayo Idowu, while the former Governor was represented by his counsel, Ahmed Tafa.