Akingbola Surrenders To EFCC, No Plans To Remove Farida – Presidency

San Francisco, August 04, (THEWILL) – Embattled former Group Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola today surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its headquarters in Abuja.

Akingbola reported at the EFCC office at about 10. am today and was immediately taken into custody for interrogation.

THEWILL is however unable to confirm whether he was granted administrative bail by the anti-graft agency but a source at the commission said Akingbola would not be granted administrative bail by the agency.

Meanwhile, multiple sources today accused Akingbola of orchestrating a false, misleading, and spurious report published in some media today that the Federal Government had ordered the removal of EFCC czar, Mrs. Farida Waziri from office.

The Presidency, the Attorney Generals Office and the EFCC have however debunked the report which started circulating on Wednesday morning.

Presidential spokesman, Mr. Ima Niboro, spokesman for the AG, Mr. Chuks Akunna and EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi confirmed that no such directive was issued.

Akingbola is being charged on multiple counts of stealing, financial misappropriation and money laundering, amongst other criminal charges.

He was removed as GMD of Intercontinental Bank Plc by the Sanusi led central bank in August 2009 following the global recession which exposed the true financial state of Nigerian banks.

Akingbola fled to Britain thereafter to evade arrest but crawled out of hiding on Tuesday after the government applied to the UK for his extradition to Nigeria to face charges.

The Federal Government also successfully procured a court order freezing Akingbola’s worldwide assets running into more than N15 billion naira, allegedly acquired with depositors’ funds while he was GMD.

There has been no official statement from the EFCC on when the banker would be appearing in court.