From Ifedayo Sayo, Yinka Aderibigbe (Ado-Ekiti) and Lemmy Ughegbe (Abuja)

The suit, initiated on his behalf by the sacked Ekiti Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice, Awosein Ajayi against the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) seeks to invalidate the emergency regime

His action came as the suspended Acting Governor, Chief Friday Aderemi and Fayose's deputy, Mrs Biodun Olujimi refuted reports that they were under house arrest.

Fayose in the suit seeks the withdrawal of the conferment of recognition to the administrator of the state, Brig. Gen. Tunji Olurin (rtd), appointed by President Obasanjo, following his declaration of emergency rule in the state.

In an originating summons filed by Dr Alex Iziyon (SAN), the plaintiff prayed the apex court for the following reliefs:

* a declaration that the imposition of the state of emergency in Ekiti State by the President was unconstitutional.

* a declaration that the President Republic of Nigeria wrongly exercised his powers pursuant to the provision of Section 305 and therefore the said action was unconstitutional, and

* a declaration that the Sole Administrator cannot take over or administer Ekiti State from October 19, 2006 or any date thereof as his appointment was illegal.

Ajayi in the suite admitted that there were some allegations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Fayose and Olujimi. He also recounted the impeachment processes in the House

Fayose maintained that there was no breach of law and order, actual of threatened or apparent in Ekiti State before the state of Emergency was declared by Obasanjo.

In separate interviews with The Guardian, Aderemi and Olujimi said media reports about their house arrest were not true and did not reflect the happenings in the state.

Olujimi and Aderemi were at the centre of the political crisis that led to the Federal Government's imposition of emergency rule in Ekiti on Wednesday.

But Olujimi, who welcomed the action of the Federal Government said there was no basis for the government to restrict her movement.

She said there was no violence and at no time was she a security threat.

The impeached deputy governor maintained that she would remain a law-abiding citizen, adding that her disagreement with Aderemi bothered on keeping to the rule of law as against jungle justice.

Aderemi who spoke through his special assistant, Mr Charles Adenitan, said he was in government house throughout Thursday to receive the sole Administrator so as to hand over to him.

He said his movement was never restricted and there was no basis for him to go out to jubilate saying the situation called for sober reflection on how the state got to its present situation.

Olurin met with top civil servants in the state yesterday and asked them to brace up for a better service delivery.

At the meeting attended by Head of Service, Mr Segun Bankole and permanent secretaries, Olurin urged the workers to be punctual at work and warned them against acts that could affect their optimal productivity.

He asked the permanent secretaries to take charge of their ministries, saying all commissioners and special advisers had been directed to hand over government property in their possession to the most senior civil servants in their ministries.