EFCC Seals Off Ex-Gov Fayose’s Country Home In Ekiti

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has sealed off the country home of former governor of Ekiti state, Mr Ayo Fayose in Afao Ekiti in furtherance of efforts to ensure full compliance with a subsisting court order on the interim forfeiture of his assets earlier obtained by the anti-graft agency .

The Commission had last Wednesday September 29, 2010 sealed off two houses belonging to the former governor in choice areas of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

A statement by the EFCC on Tuesday October 5 said that a team of operatives sealed off Fayose's mansion located at Olorunfemi Esan street, Afao Ekiti at about 2.20 pm. The property is suspected to be part of the proceeds of crime over which the former governor is facing a 51 count corruption charges

The EFCC had on July 27, 2006 obtained a court order on the interim forfeiture of asset and properties belonging to Fayose after he was discovered to have engaged in fraudulent activities and money laundering when he held sway as governor of Ekiti State. He was subsequently arraigned by the Commission on a 51 count charge in a Federal High Court, Lagos for alleged money laundering, illegal diversion and misappropriation of the sum of N1.2 billion.

Apart from the mansion in Afao Ekiti, some other properties covered by the forfeiture order and which had already been sealed off include those located at 1, Fagbohun Street, GRA Iyaganku and another near Court of Appeal, GRA Ibadan .

The presiding judge, Justice Tijani Abubakar had ordered then that an interim forfeiture be placed on the former governor's property pending the determination of the case. EFCC subsequently executed the order of the court by placing the former governor's property under seal. However, without vacating the court order, the former governor and his family returned to the properties in defiance of the subsisting order hence, the Commission's decision to re-seal the property.

Part of the court order reads: “An order of interim forfeiture of the asset and properties listed in the schedule set out below and attached to this motion as Exhibit EFCC4 which the application is satisfied are the proceeds and disbursement arising out of financial crimes pending the hearing and determination of the charge No FHC/179C/2006…”

Ayodele Fayose was first arraigned by the EFCC on December 17, 2006 but was later granted bail by the court. Though he took his plea, he has since been filing frivolous applications in his attempt to prolong and delay trial. Earlier this year, the governor challenged the jurisdiction of the court on his trial in Lagos; the case has now been transferred to Ekiti Federal High Court for trial.

 


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