Corruption: How Fayose wants plans his after-government life, writes EFCC to surrender self on October 16

Governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose has written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on his intention to surrender himself to the anti-corruption agency on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.

Fayose will hand over the reign of power of the South West state to Dr. John Kayode Fayemi on the said date.

Despite clearance by the Supreme Court giving his 2014 election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration of Goodluck Jonathan a clean bill of health, Fayose remains on the lips of every Nigerian regarding the receipt of $2 million and $35 million from the Federal Government to prosecute his election to the Ekiti State Government House.

But Fayose persistently denied existence of such occurrence when he was exposed to have so collected by Chief Tope Aluko and a military officer involved in the use of money and forces to rig the election that produced him governor in 2014.

Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, was said to have returned from the United States of America, at a point, and made straight to the EFCC where he confirmed to the anti-graft agency that he actually delivered the money to the once powerful and but now embattled Faraoh of Ekiti State politics.

In the letter, personally signed by him, Fayose said he was notifying the agency of his decision to make himself available to the EFCC “to clarify issue(s) or answer questions on issues within my knowledge.”

In the letter dated 10th September, 2018 and addressed to the chairman of the EFCC, he said his desire to submit to the commission was hinged “on several and serial actions of your commission for some time now, including but not limited to freezing of my accounts and attempts to secure temporary forfeiture of my properties.”

According to him, this is an “indicative of the commission’s desire to have me clarify some issues or answer some questions but for the immunity I enjoy under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution as the sitting governor of Ekiti State.”

He added, “I wish to inform you that my term of office pursuant to which I enjoy immunity against investigation and prosecution under the above provision shall lapse by effluxion of time on Monday, 15th October, 2018.

“As a responsible citizen of our great country, who believes in the rule of law, I wish to inform you of my decision to make myself available in your office on Tuesday, 16th October 2018 at 1pm to clarify issues or answer questions within my knowledge.

“Kindly confirm the suitability of the above date or indicate by return, the commission’s convenient date.”

A stamp on a copy of the letter, entitled “Notification of my decision to make myself available in your office to clarify issue(s) or answer questions on issues within my knowledge”, indicated that it was received in the office of the EFCC chairman on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

Fayose has been in a battle of wits with the anti-graft agency and had also been in and out of courts with the commission over his personal and state’s finances.

He completes his tenure on October 16, when he is expected to hand over government to Dr Kayode Fayemi.