EFCC Detains Ondo APC Governorship Aspirant, Akinterinwa

Reports have emerged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Wale Akinterinwa, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

His detention is said to be connected to his tenure as finance commissioner in the administration of late Rotimi Akeredolu, the immediate former governor of the state.

Akinterinwa was among the 16 aspirants who challenged one another for the Ondo governorship ticket of the APC over the weekend.

However, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was declared the winner of the primary election on Monday by Ahmed Ododo, Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Kogi State.

He served as the Commissioner for Finance in the administration of the late Akeredolu for over seven years.

According to reports, he is being investigated by the EFCC for alleged mismanagement of billions of Naira, even though he was allowed to participate in the APC primary election from detention.

Sources from the EFCC said Akinterinwa was invited some weeks ago for interaction on some allegations but was “allegedly too busy” to honour the invitation.

He, however, showed up at the anti-graft commission’s office on Thursday.

It was learnt that EFCC decided to be silent on the detention in order not to jeopardise Akinterinwa’s chances in the APC primary.

“In the past few weeks, the EFCC invited Akinterinwa for interrogation on the red flag on some issues during his tenure as Commissioner for Finance. But he has not been forthcoming," one of the sources was quoted to have said.

“The commission had the option to declare him wanted, but it exercised restraint to avoid being dragged into politics because he was an aspirant for the APC governorship primary.

“But Akinterinwa voluntarily reported to the EFCC in Abuja. He was taken into custody for quizzing.”

Speaking on Sunday, the source was quoted as saying: “Akinterinwa is still in our custody. We did not arrest or pick him up, but he came up to respond to our long-overdue invitation. I can tell you that his detention has no political undertone.”