The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) has traced three posh
houses to an associate of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The houses, one in Abuja and two in
Lagos, are believed to have been bought with part of the N1.219billion
pumped into the 2014 governorship election. The cash believed to be
from the office of the National security Adviser (NSA). Fayose has
denied having any dealing with the office while Col. Sambo Dasuki
(retd.) was in charge.
The cash, detectives believe, was from
the N4.745billion allocated to a former Minister of state (Defence)
Musiliu Obanikoro by the ONSA as a war chest to win the governorship
elections in Ekiti and Osun states in 2014.
The EFCC has facts to believe that the associate allegedly acted as a front for the governor, who is under investigation.
The agency may seize the properties under the Interim Forfeiture Clause of the EFCC Act.
According to a source, investigators have established a link between the N1.29billion and the three mansions.
The source said: “We have been able to
trace the three mansions in Abuja and Lagos to a key associate of
Fayose. Our investigators have retrieved relevant documents, including
the mode of payment for the houses.
“Part of the N1.29billion credited to
Fayose was used for the acquisition of the mansions. We are suspecting
that the associate allegedly acted as a front for the governor. We will
certainly invoke the appropriate laws to seize the assets after
conclusion of investigation.”
The Forfeiture Order in Sections 26 and
29 of the EFCC Act reads: “Any property subject to forfeiture under
this Act may be seized by the commission in the following circumstances-
(a) the seizure is incidental to an arrest or search; or (b) in the
case of property liable to forfeiture upon process issued by the court
following an application made by the Commission in accordance with the
prescribed rules
“Whenever property is seized under any
of the provisions of this Act, the Commission may-(a) place the property
under seal; or (b) remove the property to a place designated by the
Commission.
“Properties taken or detained under this
section shall be deemed to be in custody of the Commission, subject
only to an order of a court.”
The EFCC is said to be probing clues on the governor’s alleged acquisition of a choice property in Dubai.
“We are looking at these clues and
exploring the Mutual Legal Assistance understanding between Nigeria and
the UAE to authenticate the information at our disposal and to take
necessary legal action,” the source said, pleading not to be named “so
as not to jeopardise the investigation”.
Credit: Nation
Post a Comment