Gov Fayose collaborator seek refuge in State Government as EFCC storm Ekiti

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have claimed that individuals suspected to be complicit in the N4.7billion arms cash probe have gone into hiding following the freezing of the Ayo Fayose’s account, Governor of Ekiti state.

Detectives from the agency were in Ekiti state on Wednesday to arrest some of the people connected to the investigation of the governor’s account but found nobody as the targets are said to be hiding in the state Government House.

The anti-graft had created a whirlpool of controversy when it placed a restriction on the Zenith bank account of the governor on Monday.

According to an EFCC source who spoke to the Nation, “They are all holed up in the place but they can’t hide forever.”

The said targets are believed to have gone into hiding for fear of being apprehended and victimised by the EFCC.

Fayose, in a statement released yesterday, threatened to release the names of the people involved in the transfer of money into his Zenith bank account “if they cannot stand by what they did because of the threat from the EFCC.”

Fayose also said Zenith bank had been cowed into submission by the EFCC but according to the source, the suspicious transactions alleged to have been carried out by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele was reported by the bank to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

“We have been on this case for a while. From the facts available, Zenith Bank reported the transactions to NFIU,” the source added.

“We have intelligence report that some of these people wanted in connection with the ongoing investigation have been moved to the Government House in Ado-Ekiti.”

The pertinent question to ask, however, is why the EFCC is trying the governor in the media even after the Presidency on Tuesday strongly warned against such.

The EFCC source was quoted as saying that Fayose should go and defend himself as the agency had released ‘facts in the public domain’.

It leaves much to wonder if the governor is to defend himself on the pages of newspapers and blogs or before a competent court.

Fayose had reacted to the move by the EFCC with a fact sheet and an explanation of the source of his campaign funds which is being investigated.

Reacting to Fayose’s reply, the source said, “We have nothing to react to at all because we have put the incontrovertible facts in the public domain.”

“Let Fayose go and defend himself. We will not take up issues with him any longer. And having shifted his defence to Zenith Bank, it is the duty of the media to hear from the bank.”

[Ynaija]