The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has traced three posh houses to an associate of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, The Nation is reporting. The houses, one in Abuja and two in Lagos, are believed to have been bought with part of the N1.219 billion pumped into the 2014 governorship election. The cash was believed to be from the office of the National security Adviser. Fayose has denied having any dealing with the office, while Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) was in charge.
The cash, detectives believe, was from the N4.745 billion allocated to a former Minister of State (Defence), Musiliu Obanikoro, by the ONSA as a war chest to win the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States in 2014. The EFCC has facts to believe that the associate allegedly acted as a front for the governor, who is under investigation. The agency may seize the properties under the Interim Forfeiture Clause of the EFCC Act.
According to a source, investigators have established a link between the N1.29 billion and the three mansions. The source said:
“We have been able to trace the three mansions in Abuja and Lagos to a key associate of Fayose. Our investigators have retrieved relevant documents, including the mode of payment for the houses.”
“Part of the N1.29billion credited to Fayose was used for the acquisition of the mansions. We are suspecting that the associate allegedly acted as a front for the governor. We will certainly invoke the appropriate laws to seize the assets after conclusion of investigation.”
The Forfeiture Order in Sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act reads:
“Any property subject to forfeiture under this Act may be seized by the commission in the following circumstances- (a) the seizure is incidental to an arrest or search; or (b) in the case of property liable to forfeiture upon process issued by the court following an application made by the Commission in accordance with the prescribed rules
“Whenever property is seized under any of the provisions of this Act, the Commission may-(a) place the property under seal; or (b) remove the property to a place designated by the Commission. Properties taken or detained under this section shall be deemed to be in custody of the Commission, subject only to an order of a court.”
The EFCC is said to be probing clues on the governor’s alleged acquisition of a choice property in Dubai.
“We are looking at these clues and exploring the Mutual Legal Assistance understanding between Nigeria and the UAE to authenticate the information at our disposal and to take necessary legal action,” the source said, pleading not to be named “so as not to jeopardise the investigation”.