— Lawyer, Emodamori writes Ondo Assembly
An Akure based lawyer, Mr Femi Emmanuel Emodamori, has said that Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s Commissioner-nominees must provide evidence of their assets declaration before their confirmation by the state’s House of Assembly.
He stressed the need for compliance with the constitutional provision in a letter dated 17th June, 2025 and addressed to the State Assembly Speaker.
According to him, the call is part of efforts to wage war against corruption and abuse of power, which is a collective responsibility of all well-meaning citizens.
He said, “It is public knowledge that the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has, pursuant to the power conferred on him by Section 192 (1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), forwarded the names of Twelve (12) Commissioner-Nominees to the Ondo State House of Assembly vide a letter dated June 12, 2025.
“Although the letter does not expressly state whether or not it is accompanied
by the evidence of declaration of assets and liabilities by the Nominees, I am persuaded that the Governor would not have left undone anything
constitutionally stipulated as pre-conditions for the nomination and/or confirmation of the Commissioners.
“Nevertheless, out of abundance of caution, and as a Nigerian with consistent record of advocacy for transparency and accountability in governance and private business, I respectfully urge the State House of Assembly to ensure full compliance with the proviso to Section 192 (2) of the Constitution which unequivocally states “…no commissioner nominee shall be confirmed by the House of Assembly of the state unless evidence of declaration of Assets and liabilities of the nominee as prescribed in this constitution is presented.”
“The above sacred provision is embedded in our Constitution towards actualizing Section 15 (5) thereof, which provides that “The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”
“The Right Honourable Speaker would agree with me that one of the most
ingenious ways to fight corruption and abuse of power is for public servants
to declare their assets and liabilities before assuming public office. If their
assets and liabilities before assuming office are officially documented, and
we all know what they are legitimately entitled to during their tenure of office by the powers conferred in Section 153 (1) (n) and Paragraph 31 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution, then it becomes easy to know what they could be legitimately worth after leaving office.
“The fight against corruption and abuse of power is our collective responsibility. We cannot make any meaningful progress as a nation until we all successfully fight the spirit of mammon and kleptomania ravaging the land.
“As long as public servants turn themselves to economic termites, stealing what they do not even need in order to oppress the same people from whom they derived all their powers and authority, as stated in Section 14 (2) (a) of the Constitution, we cannot have a nation to be proud of.
“That explains my consistent advocacy for transparency and accountability in governance, and what I preach is what I also practice. For over a decade, I have been voluntarily publishing all my incomes and gifts every years on line to the entire world.
“I, therefore, believe the Right Honourable Speaker would understand my keen interest in, and demand for, full compliance with the proviso to Section 192(2) of the Constitution which stipulates that the House of Assembly must have evidence of declaration of assets and liabilities by Commissioner Nominees before they are confirmed. Please have the assurances of my highest esteem, as usual, the Right Honourable Speaker”.
