Politics
Bullion van driver tells how N1.22bn was conveyed for Fayose
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has continued to gather more evidence against Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, as a bullion van driver, Olaoluwa Omotoso, has told investigators that he drove the bullion van that conveyed the N1.219 billion allegedly used for the election of Fayose in 2014.
Omotoso confessed that he drove the bullion van to tarmac of the Akure Airport to evacuate the money.
He also told investigators that he made two trips to evacuate the money.
According to the driver, he took part of the money to a bank in the Alagbaka area of Akure before taking the remains to meet Fayose at his Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti.
According to a source in the EFCC, who confirmed the developement: “Omotoso explained that on June 17, 2014, he was given a directive to go to the Akure airport to convey some funds. He said he went to the airport twice to move the money. He said some of the money was taken to a bank while he, along with Agbele, moved the remaining cash to Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti.
Read Also : Restructuring: Is Osinbajo speaking for himself, APC or a paymaster
“He said the money was moved in three vehicles, including one bullion van and two Toyota Hilux vans. The two Toyota Hilux vans had some soldiers inside for security while Agbele was with him in the Hilux van.
“He said he did not know exactly how much was conveyed. He explained that Agbele held the keys to the vault in the bullion van. On getting to Spotless Hotel at night, they offloaded the cash and Agbele entered the vehicle to search and ensure that no money was left behind. Agbele then returned the keys and Omotoso drove off.”
In a related development, the Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Mr. Peter Amangbo, has said the bank did not sponsor the electionn of the embattled governor.
It would be recalled that Fayose had claimed that the bank sponsored his election.
The bank MD, who said Zenith Bank has only one branch in Ado Ekiti, said it made no sense for the bank to invest in Fayose when the state government does not have any account with the bank.
He also said he never held any meeting with Fayose or his friend, Abiodun Agbele.
By Timothy Enietan-Matthews
Ripples Nigeria….without borders, without fears
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...