EFCC Obtains Court Order To Keep Fayose In Custody For Two Weeks

EFCC Grills Fayose Over Corruption Charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has moved to detain former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose for at least two weeks by obtaining a court order to that effect from a Federal Capital Territory High Court.

Fayose could also remain in custody for more than two weeks as Naija News gathered the remand order is subject to renewal.

“We have obtained a court order to hold Fayose for at least two weeks pending investigation. He could be released earlier or later than two weeks depending on the outcome of investigation,” a reliable source said.

Fayose is been grilled by the EFCC for allegedly receiving N1.3bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, during the build-up to the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Sources within the commission further revealed to PUNCH that Fayose was also under probe for allegedly receiving bribes from from government contractors through his aide, Abiodun Agbele, who is currently standing trial for fraud.

“We have many cases against Fayose being handled by three different teams. We cannot just arraign him immediately. We want to do a thorough job before taking him to court,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Fayose’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has threatened to sue the EFCC for breach of fundamental human rights should the commission fail to release the ex-governor on Thursday (today).

Ozekhome wondered why Fayose would be held for over 24 hours since the commission claimed to have been investigating him for over two years.

He also revealed the anti graft agency could not force Fayose to write any statement as he reserved the right to remain silent.

The senior advocate said since Fayose’s accounts had been frozen and his properties seized by the commission, there was nothing for the ex-governor to tell the EFCC as the matter was already in court.

Ozekhome said: “His lawyers will consider approaching the court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights if he is not released on Thursday. Section 35 and 36 of the constitution are clear on this.

“He is not a flight risk. He willingly submitted himself to the EFCC even earlier than the time he was supposed to come. What the EFCC is doing is nothing but media trial.

“From the way they have been chasing Fayose in the last three years, one would have expected that the EFCC would have completed its investigations and would arrest him immediately his tenure expires and charge him the next day but that is not the case.

“They want him to write a statement by force and then use the statement against him instead of using their own evidence.”