The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begged Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Federal High Court in Lagos not to give Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) access to his account in Guaranty Trust Bank which has a balance of N75m.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the money, which was paid to Ozekhome as legal fee by the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, was part of the N2.26bn arms procurement fund, which a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), allegedly looted.

The EFCC claimed to have traced N1.22bn out of the N2.26bn Dasuki loot to Fayose.

The anti-graft agency claimed that Dasuki routed the money to Fayose through a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

The EFCC said this in a counter-affidavit it filed in opposition to an application by Ozekhome seeking the unfreezing of his account.

Ozekhome’s GTB account, having a balance of N75m, had since February 7, 2017, been frozen by the EFCC on the order of Justice Anka.

But Ozekhome had approached the court stating that the EFCC misrepresented facts to obtain the freezing order and urged Justice Anka to lift the freezing order.

The SAN had contended that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional, had no legal justification, and was a gross violation of sections 36, 37 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

In response, however, the EFCC, in a counter affidavit deposed to by one of its prosecutors, Idris Mohammed, lamented that though it had earlier secured an interim order from Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos to freeze Fayose’s account, the governor, through Ozekhome, went before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal High Court to obtain an order to unfreeze the account.

The EFCC prosecutor said despite the fact that Fayose was aware that it had immediately appealed Justice Taiwo’s ruling, the governor still went ahead to dissipate part of the contentious funds, paying a sum of N75m to Ozekhome who helped him to secure Justice Taiwo’s unfreezing order.

The EFCC said Ozekhome ought to have “reasonably known that the N75m was transferred to him” from Fayose’s account, which the EFCC claimed was used to retain proceeds of crime and alleged kickbacks from some contractors in Ekiti State.

The EFCC urged Justice Anka not to unfreeze Ozekhome’s account.

Justice Anka adjourned till 7, 2017 for hearing in the case.

Jesusloveyou:
He also receive kickback from contractors. Na wa oo
Pdp in action.
Ipods wil not see this one, that their adopted father is in hot soup

Jesusloveyou:
He also receive kickback from contractors. Na wa oo
Pdp in action.
Ipods wil not see this one, that their adopted father is in hot soup

Super1Star:
He is a ''professional'' goat that ate our yam ''professionally''.

No wonder he was against the arrest of corrupt judges Why will not be kidnapped by unemployed graduates who simply want their share of the Dasuki yam through him.

PFRB:
EFCC is telling uncoordinated lies. They were talking about Dasuki but now joined it with contract kickbacks from Ekiti state.

Abdhul:

Keneking:
Great ..

"The EFCC urged Justice Anka not to unfreeze Ozekhome’s account."

- I support this prayer

AceRoyal:
This is all crap!
Wait patiently and make sure u arrest him immediately he leaves office as governor.
Give us pictures of documents and all to back up your claim.
I'm sick and tired of all these media propaganda to distract us from pressing burning national issues.

ceevictor:
U are a fool for supporting this prayer where professional fee paid for services rendered has now become a subject of EFFC investigation. Very soon salaries paid to Ekiti Workers will soon be investigated as part of crime proceed from Dasuki

AceRoyal:
This is all crap!
Wait patiently and make sure u arrest him immediately he leaves office as governor.
Give us pictures of documents and all to back up your claim.
I'm sick and tired of all these media propaganda to distract us from pressing burning national issues.

How did they arrive at the conclusion that the money paid to Ozekhome was actually from the proceed of Dansuki loot?

What evidence do they have to back up their claim?

Is it illegal to pay for "professional" services rendered and how will one offering such service know about the source of income.

EFCC is grasping at straws because this case is DOA!

Super1Star:


Have you read the Anti Money Laundering Act and EFCC Act?

As long as the money can be traced to the primary looted fund, even if you are the 10th beneficiary down the chain, they can come after you.

What you are calling professional service can be seen as Layering under the AML Act.

stephnie1:

Fayose is going directly to jail to meet kanu

AceRoyal:
This is all crap!
Wait patiently and make sure u arrest him immediately he leaves office as governor.
Give us pictures of documents and all to back up your claim.
I'm sick and tired of all these media propaganda to distract us from pressing burning national issues.

How did they arrive at the conclusion that the money paid to Ozekhome was actually from the proceed of Dansuki loot?

What evidence do they have to back up their claim?

Is it illegal to pay for "professional" services rendered and how will one offering such service know about the source of income.

EFCC is grasping at straws because this case is DOA!