It’s under investigation…Commission
By Chizoba Ogbeche, Abuja and Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti state Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has frozen his account and those of his associates.
Speaking with newsmen at the premises of Zenith Bank in Ado-Ekiti, where he has his personal account, the governor said he had earlier issued a counter-cheque to make withdrawal but was rejected by the bank , describing the action as “criminal and illegal.”
But in a reaction, the commission said, any account under investigation will be blocked.
Fayose, who claimed he got wind of plans by the Presidency to freeze his account some days earlier, said he never knew the federal government was up to anything that serious.
A source in the bank reportedly told Fayose that his account was allegedly frozen on the order of the anti-graft agency.
The governor, who cited Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, said, as a sitting governor, he
enjoys immunity, urging the federal government to fight corruption within the ambit of the law.
A visibly furious Fayose blasted the Muhammadu Buhari administration, describing it as a government garbed in corruption.
He said:“I got wind of the fact that the EFCC had placed restriction order on my personal account and that of my associates. I came here today and I have been able to see it. This action shows that this government has no respect for the constitution because I enjoy immunity under Section 308.
“I support government fighting corruption, but it has to be within the ambit of the law. You can investigate me, it is their right, but they have to wait till 2018, because I will be done by then. They should not be in a hurry because I will personally come to them for investigation.
“I have become a figure in this country that I don’t have anywhere to run to. This rascality of EFCC must stop. If they like, let them investigate the whole world. Is it because they are a sitting government now that nobody can ask them question? We will take every legal procedure to get things right.”
Continuing, the governor whose voice was rising, insisted: “I am not leaving this bank until they give me my statement of account. They must put it into writing because EFCC has
no right under the law to freeze my account.
“They did not communicate me. They want to destabilise the state and we will use all legal means to make them obey the constitution. They can investigate me, but they can’t coerce me.”
Fayose, who urged President Buhari not to see himself as a saint, alleged that the President’s wife, Aisha, was involved in the Jefferson’s Halliburton scandal in the United States of America, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
“Mrs. Buhari was accused of wiring $170, 000 to Jefferson’s account and the man has been convicted; so Buhari and APC should not see themselves as saints.”
But in a reaction, the EFCC said, contrary to Fayose’s claim on immunity, the privilege only protects the class of public officials from prosecution, not investigation.
The agency’s position was made known by the Head , Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, during a telephone interview with one of our correspondents.
He said: “Is it an offence to freeze his account? Under our constitution, the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors have immunity against prosecution, not investigation.
“Anybody could be investigated and if in the course of investigation, an account is suspected to be connected to illegal activities, that account can be blocked.”
