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EFCC places Fayose on watch list, customs alerts commands

By Ayodele Afolabi, Ado-Ekiti
17 September 2018   |   4:28 am
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it had placed Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on the watch-list.This was contained in a letter written and signed by Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu...

Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose

strong>• Action irresponsible, says Ekiti State gov
• Denies committing state to N117b debt
• Asks DMO, banks to publish indebtedness

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it had placed Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on the watch-list.This was contained in a letter written and signed by Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, to the Comptroller-General of Customs dated September 12, 2018 titled: “Request for watch-listing of person, case of conspiracy, abuse of office, official corruption, theft and money laundering.

The letter read in part: “The under-listed suspect is under investigation in connection with the above mentioned offences and there is reasonable suspicion suggesting that he may likely leave the country either through the land border, airports or seaports to evade investigation. Hence, you are kindly requested to watch-list and arrest him.

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has also directed its offices, including zonal, area and other levels to monitor Fayose and report to the EFCC if seen.But Special Adviser to Governor Ayodele Fayose on Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said: “That would be irresponsible of the EFCC and the APC-led Federal Government. Meanwhile, Fayose has denied committing the state to any debt either by taking bond or borrowing from any financial institution since he assumed office for the second term on October 16, 2014 till date.

He, therefore, challenged anyone, financial institution or the Debt Management Office (DMO) and his accuser, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to publish any debt he owed on behalf of the state since he assumed office. Fayose, who stated this at the weekend during a press briefing in the new governor’s office while reacting to allegation by the transition committee set up by the APC’s governor-elect, John Kayode Fayemi, that the state’s debt profile according to the data they allegedly obtained from the DMO currently stands at N117 billion, dismissed such claims as “cheap blackmail and lies from the pit of hell.”

Besides, the governor also justified the purchase of a new vehicle for himself and approval of severance packages for his deputy and himself.He said: “In my first tenure, I left N10.4 billion in the covers of government, but I started this administration on October 16, 2014 with huge debt incurred by my predecessor, John Kayode Fayemi.

“The last administration of Fayemi took N25 billion bond and N32 billion commercial loan and the state will pay the bond until year 2022. The commercial loan was restructured like it was done for other states.“When Fayemi was leaving as governor in 2014, he left with a car and so did other governors before him. So, you can’t expect me not to have a befitting car when I leave office.”

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