Politics

No more goofs, EFCC seizes correct houses of Fayose

Published

8 years ago

July 17, 2016

No more goofs, EFCC seizes correct houses of Fayose

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has allegedly seized some properties in Lagos and Abuja belonging to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state.

Earlier, EFFC reportedly goofed trying to seal property thought to belong to Fayose.

The said properties, it was gathered were seized as part of the ongoing investigations into the N1.219bn the governor is accused to have received from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), through a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

EFCC is alleging that the seized houses were purchased with stolen funds as the commission invoked the Assets Forfeiture clause to seize the properties in line with Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004.

The Abuja properties are located at 32 Yedseram Street and 44 Osun River Crescent, Maitama. According to court documents filed by the EFCC, the property on Osun River Crescent was bought by Fayose in the name of his London-based sister, Mrs. Moji Ladeji.

Reports also say that the properties in Lagos were four duplexes located at Plot 100 Tiamiyu Savage street, Victoria Island, costing $1.3m each and were allegedly bought through a company, JJ Technical.

In a 10-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by Tosin Owobo, the EFCC is accusing Fayose of using the proceeds of crime to purchase the properties.

“Apart from fraudulently retaining the sum of N1, 219,490,000 being part of the N4, 745,000,000 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 kickbacks from various contractors with the Ekiti state government such as Samchese Nigeria Ltd, Tender Branch Concept Nig. Ltd, Hoff Concept Ltd and Calibre Consulting Ltd,” the affidavit read in part.

Meanwhile, Fayose in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said any property that might be linked to him or his company was “bought legitimately and his properties were duly declared in his assets declaration form and sources of such funds were not illicit.”

This is coming as Fayose said he would meet them in court by 2018 to challenge what he described as lies.

Ebere Ndukwu …

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