Group Petitions EFCC Against Politician Alleged To Have Jumped Bail In UK For Financial Crimes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has been urged to probe allegations of financial crimes that a House of Assembly aspirant in Ekiti State, Otunba Lekan Akinleye has allegedly committed.

The London Metropolitan Police had declared Akinleye, the candidate wanted after he had jumped bail while awaiting trial for cross border crimes.

A petition by the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), a coalition of over 150 civil right groups want the EFCC to investigate the grievous allegations.

Through its chairman, CSNAC, Olanrewaju Saraj, the group stated that Nigerians have to know the kind of man they are trying to vote in.

He said EFCC should find out if he had flouted the legal provisions in England and other international conventions against illicit funds.

Akinleye was said to have impersonated a business tycoon, Tony Woods, alongside his wife Stephanie Woods, in order to defraud unsuspecting potential investors of money said to run into hundreds of British pounds.

Naija News understands that he was arrested on November 24 by the Paddington State Police in London.

However, he jumped bail and is now in Nigeria contesting for the House of Assembly in Ekiti.

CSNAC said: “We strongly believe that the above allegation is one deserving of thorough, immediate and urgent investigation; the citizens during every election period vote candidate they believe to hold integrity, selflessness and honesty as virtues.

“The case in point is very critical and fundamental to the choice to be made by the electorate in relation to the forthcoming election. The public deserves the veracity or otherwise of the allegations in deciding who to vote into lawmaking chamber because voting a fraudulent or fugitive individual into power is a disaster waiting to befall the nation.”

CSNAC said though the law presumes any allegation as a suspicion until the suspect is so proven guilty, the electorate is anxious to see transparency and accountability actualised and due process deployed in investigating corruption and financial crimes.

It added: “We hereby appeal that the EFCC uses its good office to ensure that this matter is properly, effectively and painstakingly investigated with the view to forestalling fraudulent and likely corrupt individuals from getting elected into positions of authority.”

However, Naija News understands Otunba Akinleye has denied claims that he was arrested in the UK has been peddled in certain quarters.

Ekiti PDP House of Assembly candidate for Efon-Alaaye Constituency, Otunba Lekan Akinyele has debunked rumour being peddled by some opposition elements that he was arrested in the United Kingdom.

Lekan… https://t.co/oVHB6GQi0B

— Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) January 29, 2019