Again, Fayose vows to honour EFCC’s summons

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has again written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying he will make himself available at its Abuja office on October 16, 2018.

He, however, argued that the haste with which the commission wants to investigate him smacks of hatred, prejudice, persecution and partiality, adding that it should wait till October 16, which is the first day after leaving office.

In a letter written to the EFCC and dated September 13, he said: “Without prejudice to Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution, I will be willing to answer questions from investigators should they be willing to meet me in my office in Ado-Ekiti on September 20, 2018.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said EFCC’s letter to the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, directing them to watch-list him and arrest him if he attempts to leave Nigeria before the expiration of his tenure, raised serious question about its impartiality, independence or neutrality.

He reminded the EFCC that, “on December 19, 2007, I presented myself for EFCC investigation at its Lagos office. There is, therefore, nothing new in my letter of September 10, 2018, which has been received and treated in bad faith. I thought I was assisting due and fair process of law.”

Fayose also explained in another letter of September 14, 2018, he restated that as a responsible citizen of Nigeria, who currently enjoys immunity under Section 308 of the constitution, it would amount to a breach of the constitution, which he swore to uphold if he appears in EFCC’s office earlier than October 16.

“If done otherwise, it will set a wrong precedent for the constitution that I represent. I chose October 16, being the next day after the expiration of my tenure upon which the immunity I enjoy will lapse to avoid any insinuations and that was in good faith.

“ I will appreciate any date convenient to you after October 15, 2018. Otherwise, expect me on October 16 at 1pm as earlier stated,” he added.