Gov Fayose and EFCC quarrel over pension thieves’ mansion allegedly sold to Falana

The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday bickered over a mansion seized from pension thieves and allegedly sold to Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana.

The governor who addressed newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, said it is “embarrassing, shameful, disgraceful that such a man of his (Falana) stature, reputed to be a human rights activist, friend of the masses, crusader of justice and defender of democracy could be linked to such scandal”.

And that “Falana’s alleged unprincipled and disgusting defence of the EFCC and Magu’s penchant for disrespect of the rule of law and due process is for selfish reasons and personal gain”.

However, the EFCC on its part, said it “takes exception to the attempt by the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose to impugn the integrity of its Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, over the management of assets recovered from pension fraud suspects”.

It described the claim by Fayose as a “most irresponsible allegation, coming from a governor of a state”, and challenged the governor, “to name the ‘prominent Nigerians’, that the EFCC and Magu supposedly ‘dashed seized properties to curry their favours’”.

Recall that the embattled former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, had accused Falana of buying a building seized from pension thieves and handed over to the EFCC. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami had also while testifying before the National Assembly last week, echoed the allegation, saying the property was sold to a ‘Lagos lawyer’.

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But Falana while denying the allegation, said the allegation by Maina is “a figment of his fecund imagination for mischief”, and that “since the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Malami SAN has apparently swallowed hook, line and sinker, the cock and bull story of Mr. Maina, a fugitive from the law of the Republic, I am compelled to challenge him to substantiate his mendacious allegation that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission allocated or sold the property in question or any other property to me.’’

But speaking on the issue, Governor Fayose said “Falana’s attempt to be clever by half in the explanations he offered to justify his alleged atrocious act; whether or not he was a first degree or third degree buyer; his efforts to white-wash what is an alleged fraudulent deal and a betrayal of public trust; whether or not he bought personally or through company or proxy; and his desperate double speak to wriggle out of this tight corner; whether court has ruled or has not ruled, all fell flat on its face,” he said.

Governor Fayose who insisted that truth must be told, further said: “Linking Falana to illegally acquired properties seized by the EFCC is bad enough but the facts provided by Malami makes the case against Falana even worse.

“This must be the real reason why Falana always fall head over heels in defence of the EFCC and Magu, not minding the vicious violations of the constitutionally-gurranted rights freedoms, and liberties of citizens. What we have always suspected has now been confirmed publicly and by no less a person as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice”

He further lamented, “How many more Falana’s do we have in the system? Malami should please help us to expose them. Some dubious elements have been deceiving the people and feeding fat on a so-called anti-corruption war that exists only in their imaginations. This Falana-gate must not be swept under the carpet like so many others before it. It is so disgusting that what was recovered from a thief has been stolen by an armed robber. It is a case of the loot being re-looted. Investigations must go back to the time of the pioneer EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu to uncover those who have been cornering all choice properties recovered from looters”, Fayose stated.

But the EFCC, said it “does not need to ingratiate discerning Nigerians to win their support”, adding, that it’s “record and the uncommon commitment of Magu to the fight against corruption is the reason why patriots like Falana would openly identify with the Commission.

“Magu and the EFCC did not give out any property, being suspected proceeds of crime, to anybody. The Commission never received any property from Abdulrasheed Maina and could not be compensating people with what does not exist. If Fayose has evidence to the contrary, he is at liberty to call another world press conference to expose all the prominent Nigerians.

Otherwise, he should face the task of governing Ekiti and the challenge of accounting for his stewardship as his tenure hits the homestretch”.

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