Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo
Fayose may lose at least six choice assets if a court agrees with the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency may apply for permanent
forfeiture of the assets in Lagos and Abuja.
But Fayose, who made a dramatic
appearance at the EFCC Abuja headquarters on Tuesday, continued to perpetrate
more drama in detention by refusing to write a statement and by rejecting an
administrative bail granted him by EFCC.
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Also yesterday, the EFCC
uncovered a plan for a protest march by Fayose’s associates.
The protesters plan to march on the EFCC office.
Fayose is being detained in connection with the
ongoing probe of N4.685billion allocated to some Politically Exposed Persons
(PEPs) by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Of the cash, detectives traced N2.0030billion to
ex-Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore, N685million to a former Minister of State
for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro and N1.3billion and $5.377million (at the
exchange rate of N168 to $1) to Fayose.
Both Omisore and Obanikoro had been quizzed. Fayose
has refused to cooperate with the anti-graft agency.
According to a source, the commission may approach the
court for permanent confiscation of six properties of Fayose to recover
N1.3billion and $5.377million allegedly collected by the ex-governor.
The assets are located in 44, Osun Crescent and 32,
Yedseram Street in Maitama, Abuja; and houses 3, 4, 6, and 9 in Plot 100,
Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Although two other houses were linked with Fayose in
Fagbohun Street, GRA, Iyaganku and another near Court of Appeal, GRA, Ibadan,
they may be part of a separate trial of the ex-governor in Ibadan.
Another source said: “We may apply for the permanent
forfeiture of the six assets traced to Fayose in Lagos and Ibadan.
“The duplex in Osun Crescent was allegedly bought for
N200million from the defunct Skye Bank Plc. The one located in Yedseram Street
in Abuja was purchased at N270million from a businessman.
“All the houses in Lagos were paid for by Abiodun
Agbele, an associate of the ex-governor who is on trial. Agbele allegedly paid
over N880million for the properties in Lagos.”
A fact-sheet showed that the duplexes were “acquired
within 180 days in office by Fayose”.
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“The houses were bought through his associate’s
company, De-Privateer Limited. De-Privateer remitted slush funds into three
accounts including FCMB (0519693019), First Bank of Nigeria (1000070240) and
Zenith Bank (1014016919).
“The payments were made as follows: First Bank—N40m
(29/1/15); N39.5m (30/1/15); N132.5 (30/1/ 15); N3.2m (4/2/15); N980,
000(4/2/15); N200m (17/2/15); N47m (13/2/15); N50m (13/2/15).
“The lodgments in an account in Zenith Bank
(1014016919) included N42.5m (9/4/15); N25m (23/4/15); and N229m(6/3/15).
“About N200million was paid into FCMB account
0519693019 on March 9, 2015.”
Meanwhile, for the second day running, Fayose refused
to cooperate with EFCC detectives.
Another source close to the investigation, who spoke
in confidence, said: “Our detectives met with Fayose on Wednesday but he
refused to cooperate, he was adamant on not writing any statement again.
“Apart from the courtesies accorded him, Fayose was
also granted an administrative bail which he rejected. Instead, the ex-governor
insisted that he should be arraigned for outright trial which will enable the
court to grant him bail. He prefers bail terms from a court to EFCC’s
conditions.
“So far, he remains in detention for the second day.
But we allowed Fayose access to his counsel and relatives. There is no any
intimidation.”
Security has been strengthened at the EFCC
Headquarters, following an intelligence report that Fayose’s associates plan to
launch a protest and “overwhelm” the agency’s office.
“All appropriate security agencies have been alerted
accordingly. Instead of the associates of the former governor allowing the rule
of law to prevail, they want to take the law into their hands.
“We will also allow the law to take its course against
illegal demonstrators. No one is persecuting him,” the source said.
Fayose’s Media Aide, Lere Olayinka said the former
governor has maintained his denial of all the allegations made against him and
insisted that he be charged to court.
“Today is his second day in EFCC custody and I can say
that his spirit is high and his will remains very strong,” he said.
Olayinka, who said the EFCC must stop subjecting
Nigerians to media trial whenever they lack concrete evidence to sustain court
trial, added that “the commission has started its usual lies by claiming that
it discovered houses bought by Fayose with public fund.”
He said “Nigerians should recall that in 2016,
operatives of this same EFCC attempted to seal up a guest house located at Gana
Street, Maitama, Abuja, claiming that it belonged to Fayose. Whereas, the
building belonged to a retired army general.”
Olayinka said since the EFCC claimed to have
“overwhelming evidence” against the former governor, the most reasonable thing
to do is to charge him to court and get him prosecuted with the overwhelming
evidence at the commission’s disposal.
“However, since the EFCC is only being used to settle
political scores, it is more comfortable with keeping Fayose in custody so as
to achieve the agenda of keeping him out of circulation and embarking on its
usual media trial.
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