Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, may not get off the hook of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) soon as one of the owners of the houses traced to him has vowed to cooperate with the Anti-Graft Agency as it forges ahead to probe sources of funding of his 2014 governorship election.
The EFCC is investigating Mr. Fayose over the sum of N1.2 billion he allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col Sambo Dasuki’s watch through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
Already, Mr. Fayose’s N1.299 billion bank account with Zenith Bank has been frozen. This is however being challenged in court by the embattled Governor.
It was gathered that no fewer than seven houses have allegedly been traced to the Governor by the EFCC and all are said to have been purchased since he returned to Ekiti Government House in 2014.
A top official of Still Earth Ltd and Signachorr Nigeria Ltd, that sold one of the properties to Mr. Fayose, said contrary to alarm being raised, the Governor actually bought a property in Lagos at the cost of N550 million.
According to the source, Mr. Fayose paid a deposit of N400 million for the said property through his close ally, Abiodun Agbele, popularly known as Abbey, promising to pay the balance.
Mr. Agbele is already in the custody of the EFCC and he is being pressured into saying the truth as far as the matter is concerned.
However, rather than paying the balance of N150 million through the same person that made the deposit or by himself, it was paid through a company, Samchese Nigeria Limited.
Unfortunately for Mr. Fayose, the EFCC has now discovered that the said Samchese Nigeria Limited is a contractor to Ekiti state Government, fuelling speculation that it was a kick-back due to the Governor.
The official of Still Earth Ltd and Signachorr Nigeria Ltd, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the company will not hide anything from the EFCC since it was a genuine transaction and they didn’t know the money Fayose paid was from kick-back or NSA Office.
“I want to tell you that we are a reputable company and have nothing to hide. We engaged in genuine transaction with Mr. Fayose and all the documents are there.
“We will not hide anything from the EFCC or any government agency that may be interested in the matter because our hands are clean.
“Nobody is trying to implicate the Governor, he should own up now because we are not ready to play any dirty game with him as he did with Zenith Bank,” the source said.
It will be recalled that in an affidavit in support of freezing of Fayose’s account, the EFCC stated:
“That apart from fraudulently retaining the sum of N1, 219,490,000.00 being part of the N4, 745,000,000.00 stolen from the treasury of the Federal Government through the office of the National Security Adviser, the Applicant (Fayose) has also received gratification in form of kick back from various contractors with the Ekiti State Government, such as Samchese Nigeria Ltd, Tender Branch Concept Nig. Ltd, Hoff Concept Ltd, Calibre Consulting Ltd.
“That the Applicant received these kick-backs and gratification through Still Earth Ltd and Signachorr Nigeria Ltd.
“That, in turn, the Applicant (Fayose) instructed the Still Earth Ltd and Signachoor Nigeria Ltd to use the funds to acquire properties for him.
“That in complying with the Applicant’s instruction, Still Earth Ltd and Signachoor Nigeria Ltd, acquired properties on behalf of the Applicant in the name of a company known as J.J. Technical Services Ltd belonging to the applicant and his wife. Attached and marked Exhibit EFCC 08 are copies of the deeds of assignment for the said properties.
The N1.2 billon being investigated is believed to be part of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase but diverted for political purposes by the presidency through the office of erstwhile NSA Sambo Dasuki.
