Fayose: EFCC to seize his N1.35bn properties | Details

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission has commenced moves
to seize some properties linked to the embattled Governor of Ekiti
State, Ayodele Fayose.

According to the EFCC, houses to be
seized are four duplexes on Victoria
Island in Lagos State and one located at 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.

A reliable source revealed that the
houses were allegedly purchased
with looted money.

The source told Punch that the EFCC
could invoke 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 EFCC is currently investigating
Fayose for allegedly receiving
N1.219bn from the Office of the
National Security Adviser through a
former Minister of State for Defence,
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who is currently in school in the United
States of America.

After freezing Fayose’s Zenith Bank
accounts, the anti-graft agency
alleged that it had uncovered details
of how the governor had been
receiving kickbacks from state
contractors.

The source added, “Investigations
showed that the properties were
bought with bribes from Ekiti State
contractors. Some of the properties
were not bought in Fayose’s name
but through proxies. So, we will seize all the properties by God’s
grace.”

The EFCC had, in a 10-paragraph
counter-affidavit deposed to by
Tosin Owobo, accused Fayose of
using the proceeds of crime to
purchase properties. The affidavit reads in part,
“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 Limited, Tender Branch Concept Nig. Limited, Hoff
Concept Limited and Calibre
Consulting Limited.

“The applicant (Fayose) received
these kickbacks and gratification
through Still Earth Limited and
Signachorr Nigeria Limited. In turn
the applicant (Fayose) instructed the Still Earth Limited and Signachoor Nigeria Limited to use the funds to acquire properties for him.

“In complying with the applicant’s
instruction, Still Earth Limited and
Signachoor Nigeria Limited acquired
properties on behalf of the applicant (Fayose) in the name of a company, known as J.J. Technical Services Limited, belonging to the applicant (Fayose) and his wife (Feyisetan).

“That the applicant (Fayose) also
used the name of one Mrs. Moji Ladeji (the applicant’s sister) to acquire a property situated at 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, from the proceeds of the alleged offences of receiving gratification and kickbacks.”

Read more: SkyNaija Blog