My presidential ambition responsible for harassment of Ekiti officials, says Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said the imminent defeat of President Muhammadu Buhari in a free and fair election in 2019 is the major reason the Federal Government was harassing and intimidating his aides and associates.

He also said the truth he told Nigerians during his declaration of interest that President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had nothing good to offer Nigeria, had pierced the conscience of APC leaders and given them a wounded heart.

He, however, said he would not be intimidated into abandoning a divine project of rescuing the country from maladministration.Fayose, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, yesterday said notwithstanding the needless harassment, whoever thinks he can stop a moving train with his bare hands would have himself to blame at the end.

The governor said the arrest of two officials of the state by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was the height of impunity, as a competent court of jurisdiction had ordered against the action.

Fayse added that EFCC’s action was in flagrant disobedience to the orders of Justice Taiwo. O. Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti in the case of the Attorney General of Ekiti State versus EFCC, IGP and 16 others granted on November 7, 2016.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the first and second defendants being the EFCC and the Inspector General of Police, their agents, privies or any other investigative agencies, howsoever described from arresting, detaining or investigating any person or persons, whether past or present officials in the Ekiti State Government, without any report of indictment from the Ekiti State House of Assembly pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed in this suit,” the order reads in part.

While contending that the EFCC had not vacated or appealed the court order, the governor added that its action showed desperation and political partisanship, as it had earlier petitioned against Justice Taiwo asking that the case be transferred to Akure, Ondo State.

“The new judge declined jurisdiction because he held that the EFCC’s case lacked merit and the case file was returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, who is yet to assign the case.

“The latest action by the EFCC is, therefore, premeditated, malicious, politically motivated, contemptuous and unconstitutional in all ramifications. It is another clear and undisguised evidence of gangsterism by an agency that derives its power from the constitution but uses it for political vendetta against the opposition, he said.