Lawyer to reps: Don’t elect a speaker with a tainted record

Deji Fasusi, a lawyer, has asked members of the 9th house of representatives, not to make the mistake of electing anyone with criminal records as speaker.

Speaking with reporters in Lagos, Fasusi said information available to the public shows that two of the aspirants for the exalted position have criminal records.

According to him, Femi Gbajabiamila, the candidate endorsed by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been facing allegation of perjury for a long time.

He also said Mohammed Bago, another candidate, is currently being confronted with the fraud he allegedly committed while working in at Afribank, now Polaris Bank.

He advised the lawmakers to rather elect a member with no criminal baggage as their leader in order to move the country forward.

“That corruption has been the bane of our national development is incontrovertible. We must try not to enthrone anyone with allegations of criminality hanging on his neck. In this matter, perception is key and having someone with dented image will send a dangerous signal to the international community,” he said.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is a man of impeccable character and integrity with no affinity to corruption. We have many members-elect without any allegation of corruption hanging around their necks and with requisite experience to steer the course of the House.

“Gbajabiamila and Bago are not particularly fit and proper for the speakership position in the country. Gbajabiamila has been reportedly convicted in relation to the sum of $25,000 by the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia. He has been presently dragged to court to clear his name.

“Bago’s eligibility too has been called to question. It has been reported that he had been charged on the account of an allegation that he committed fraud while in the defunct Afribank, now Polaris Bank. He should clear his name first before attempting to contest.”

Fasusi asked members of the lower legislative chamber to rally round aspirants who have clean records.

“There are members without blemish and with impeccable records contesting the Speakership. Hon. Olajide Olatubosun, an alumnus of the prestigious University of Lagos, who is also a Chartered Accountant is in the race,” he said.

“I think he is one of the best from the south-west; he has no known report of criminality. Nigeria deserves a speaker whose past will not hunt the house in particular and the country in general.”