By Jennifer Y Omiloli
Ayodele Fayose, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of sealing off houses belonging to innocent people in the state using the excuse that they are linked to him.
In a statement made available to newsmen and signed by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Mr Fayose said he was informing the public “ahead of the EFCC’s usual blackmail and media trial.”
According to Fayose, “Just been informed that operatives of the EFCC in collaboration with the APC government in Ekiti are going about sealing houses of innocent people in the state, under the guise that the houses are linked to me.
“This is another wild goose chase and the usual media campaign against my person.
“It is only in our country that an anti-corruption agency will first go about sealing houses before determining the ownership, which can be done so easily by visiting relevant agencies. “I am therefore informing the public ahead of their usual blackmail and media trial.
“None of the properties in question is owned by me and the records are there for anyone that is interested to see.
“Even if the commission is being pressured from ‘above’ to persecute Fayose at all cost, it should at least, do its job diligently to save itself from persistent embarrassment.”
The EFCC is yet to react to Mr Fayose’s accusation.
Mr Fayose and his company, Spotless Limited, are facing an 11-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of ₦2.2 billion.
According to the EFCC, Mr Fayose received ₦1.2 billion to fund his 2014 gubernatorial campaign in 2014, a sum the agency said he ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.
