There was confusion at the premises of the Ekiti State High Court on Thursday morning as the state Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, allegedly ordered his thugs to beat up a judge, Justice John Adeyeye, for what he described as the judge’s “rudeness to him”.
The pandemonium that ensued scuttled the Ekiti State Governorship Election petition Tribunal sitting billed to hold today at the High court, Ado-Ekiti, as judicial workers abandoned their duty post and ran for safety.
Witnesses said the pro-Fayose thugs had besieged the court premises as early as 6a.m., while a detachment of policemen from the police headquarters were also seen on major streets and around the court.
Justice Adeyeye of High Court 3, who was miffed by the huge number of the thugs as they surged towards the court premises had approached Mr. Fayose and urged him to prevail on “his supporters” to keep a safe distance from the court premises.
An enraged Mr. Fayose was said to have shouted the judge down, slapped him and ordered his men to beat him up. Immediately, thugs numbering about 20 pounced on Justice Adeyeye, beat him up and tore his clothes, while his co workers scampered and shouted for help.
Following the development, judicial workers hurriedly shut down the court premises thereby preventing any court proceeding for hours before the police fired tear gas canisters to disperse the surging crowd.
Justice Adeyeye is presently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ado-Ekiti.
A similar scenario had played out on Monday when suspected PDP thugs stormed the high court premises, attacked the trial judge, some litigants and judicial workers in the bid to prevent hearing in a case to determine Mr. Fayose’s eligibility for the June 21 governorship election.
