Fayose vs EFCC: Ondo APC fumes over Mimiko’s position

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, on Sunday, criticized a statement credited to Governor Olusegun Mimiko asking President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to order over the frozen of personal account of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

In a statement issued to journalists in Akure by its Director of Publicity and Media, Steve Otaloro, described such call from Governor Olusegun Mimiko as disappointing.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko had last week issued a statement as the Chairman, Governor’s Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP), and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call officials of the anti-graft agency to order, over the gross abuse of the Constitution by freezing the account of the embattled Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, noting that he still enjoys immunity as a sitting governor.

Otaloro said since the daily exposure of secret dealings of both past and present leaders mostly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the war against corruption has now sent shocking waves to the camps of corrupt individuals living fat on public collective resources, hence the alleged fear of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in his statement.

“Judging from the content of Dr. Mimiko’s statement, one can readily link the mindset of the governor to the position of a coward who dies many times before his death as enunciated by Williams Shakespeare of blessed memory.

“From emerging revelations, many adherents of the past government of the People’s Democratic Party who pilfered our common patrimony are being exposed daily beyond their faint imaginations, thereby sending shockwaves to their spines.

“Who could tell whether Dr. Mimiko might eventually be mentioned as one of the beneficiaries at the end of the day that is warranting his fears to issue such statement that President Muhammadu Buhari should call to order the EFCC over the freezing of a personal account of Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose”, he added.

The APC Director of Media explained further in his argument that the law permits the EFCC to freeze an account and attach a property of a criminal suspect and to thereafter obtain an ex parte order from the appropriate court.

“EFCC Act states; where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the court”, Otaloro said.

He urged Governor Mimiko to advise his Ekiti State counterpart, Governor Fayose, to defend his integrity, especially, after he was alleged to be keeping such a huge amount in his personal account at a time when the state workers had not received their accumulated salaries.

“If you are not a looter, you have nothing to hide, you would promptly focus your energy on defending your integrity. The immunity thing would be secondary matter in your mind.

“It should be noted that were it not for the proactive actions of the EFCC in the recent past, no one would have known that an individual could be richer than a state in our country” the APC spokesman said.

He further tasked the people of the Ondo state to take keen interest in the management of the state’s financial resources by the outgoing Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led administration who has refused to pay workers’ salaries.

Last week, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who doubles as the Chairman, Governor’s Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had condemned the action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for freezing the account of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

Mimiko, who reacted through a statement issued to journalists, said the action of the anti-graft agency has portrayed the nation as one in crisis by interfering with the account of a sitting governor.

While noting that such action doesn’t find comfort with the position of section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution, Governor Mimiko said that if the intention of the EFCC suggested any criminal infraction or fraud against Governor Fayose it should have sheathe its sword until he vacates office.

“The intention is to achieve a penal sanction without going through the due criminal procedure and criminal proceedings” he said.

According to him, the essence of section 308 of the Constitution of the country is to safe governors in the country from distractions, adding that the action against Fayose is not good for the country’s democracy.

The Governor’s Forum Chairman further mentioned that the EFCC action violates Section 96 of the 1999 constitution as amended which confer on every individual right of fair hearing.

He warned that the country is beginning to manifest the signs of totalitarianism, adding that the account of any individual could only be frozen after a court of competent jurisdiction has ruled or an interim order by a court of competent jurisdiction is granted.