Fayose writes to EFCC volunteering to submit himself for questioning on Oct 16 after leaving office

EKITI State governor Ayo Fayose has written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) offering to submit himself for questioning when he leave office on October 16 and his immunity from prosecution expires.

Last month, Ekiti State went to the polls to elect a new governor and the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec), declared Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner. Inec's official results showed that Dr Fayemi got 197,459 votes against the 178,121 votes secured by deputy governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka, who was backed by Governor Fayose.

Governor Fayose and Professor Eleka both leave office on October 16, after which the current immunity they enjoy from prosecution expires. Waiting for him with the bated breath, the EFCC issued a message on Twitter immediately after the election saying that Governor Fayose should begin to prepare to visit the commission.

Referring to an investigation into Governor Fayose’s alleged N1.3bn poultry project during his first term that lasted between 2003 and 2006, the EFCC said the commission would be reopen the case. However, a large section of Nigerians on Twitter accused the EFCC of being unprofessional and fighting a one-sided anti-corruption war and subsequently, the anti-graft agency deleted the tweet.

Aware of the fact that he is being sought, Governor Fayose has decided to take the initiative by volunteering to visit the EFCC offices rather than wait to be arrested. Yesterday, he wrote to the EFCC over the freezing of his accounts, promising that he would report himself to the commission to clarify issues after handing over to Dr Fayemi.

His letter read: “Several and serial actions of the commission for some time now including but not limited to freezing of my accounts and attempt to secure temporary forfeiture of my properties are indicative of the commissions desire to have me clarify some issues or answer some questions but for the immunity I enjoy under the section 308 of the 1999 constitution as the sitting governor of Ekiti state. I wish to inform you that my term of office pursuant to which I enjoy immunity against investigation and prosecution under the above provision shall lapse by effluxion of time on Monday 15 October 2018.

“As a responsible citizen of our great country who believes in the rule of law I wish to inform you of my decision to make myself available in your office on Tuesday, October 16th at 1 pm to clarify issues or answer questions within my knowledge.”

Governor Fayose has been having a running battle with the EFCC since 2007 but it intensified in 2016 after it was discovered that the governor, while running for office in 2014, allegedly received over N1.3bn from the then minister of state for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who is now a member of the APC. This money was said to have emanated from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, who has been in detention for nearly three years now.

As part of the investigations into the matter, Governor Fayose’s aide and trusted ally, Abiodun Agbele, who allegedly received the money from Senator Obanikoro, has since been arraigned by the EFCC while all of the governor's accounts have been frozen. Senator Obanikoro has since been converted to a prosecution witness and will be expected to give evidence against the governor when his tenure ends.