Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, is now being grilled at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) zonal command office in Ilorin, Kwara State, over an alleged N4 billion laundering scheme.
According to reliable sources close to the situation, Fayemi arrived at the EFCC premises about 9:40 a.m. on Thursday.
The PUNCH previously reported in May 2023 that Fayemi, via his lawyer, Adeola Omotunde, SAN, appealed with the EFCC to allow him to give a book in honor of former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 19, before answering the agency’s request for interrogation over money laundering charges.
A source confirmed the development on Thursday, saying, “Fayemi arrived at our Kwara command office around 9:40 a.m. today.” Our agents are now questioning him about the suspected embezzlement of N4 billion.”
“I’m not sure whether he’d be released or detained today.” However, he is not the only former governor being investigated by the panel,” according to another source.
Wilson Uwujaren, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, said he couldn’t comment on the situation when approached by our correspondent.
A source confirmed the development on Thursday, saying, “Fayemi arrived at our Kwara command office around 9:40 a.m. today.” Our agents are now questioning him about the suspected embezzlement of N4 billion.”
“I’m not sure whether he’d be released or detained today.” However, he is not the only former governor being investigated by the panel,” according to another source.
Wilson Uwujaren, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, said he couldn’t comment on the situation when approached by our correspondent.
“I’m afraid I can’t comment on that,” Uwujaren remarked.
Meanwhile, The PUNCH adds that the EFCC invited the ex-Ekiti governor to appear before the head of its zonal command office in Kwara, Nigeria’s North-Central, in a letter dated May 12, which was received by our reporter, to answer concerns about money laundering operations.
The EFCC has demanded that Mr Fayemi appear before it on May 18, according to a letter delivered by its zone commander Micheal Nzekwe.
“The commission is investigating a case of money laundering in which the need for certain clarifications from you has become imperative,” the letter states.
“In light of this, you are kindly invited to an interview with the undersigned via the Head, Economic Governance section.” The 18th of May, 2023. No. 10 Okay, off station.
However, in a follow-up letter dated May 15 and obtained by our reporter from his legal lawyer, Adeola Omotunde, SAN, Fayemi stated that he was one of the organizers and reviewer of one of the books released in Buhari’s honor.
“Our client has received your letter of invitation dated May 12th, 2023 for an appointment on Thursday, May 18th, 2023,” Mr Fayemi’s lawyer stated.
“Our client is engaged on the 18th of May 2023 as he prepares for a public presentation and launching of two new books in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari, titled: ‘State of Repair: How President Muhammadu Buhari Tried to Change Nigeria For Good’ by Anthony Goldman and ‘The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari’ by Abu Ibrahim, slated for the 19th of May 2023 at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja by 10:00 a.m.”
“Our client is one of the program’s organizers and will review one of the books.” Before receiving your invitation, our customer committed to additional programs between May 19, 2023 and May 24, 2023.
We regret to notify you that, in light of the following information, our client will be unable to honor your invitation on May 18, 2023.”
Our correspondent was unable to contact Fayemi’s lawyer on Thursday because the phone line provided in his letter was unavailable.
Aside from Fáym, the EFCC has stated that it is also investigating former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, on charges of corruption, awarding phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70 billion.
The EFCC stated that it felt obligated to make the development public in light of the departing governor’s recent attempt to throw doubt on the agency’s battle against corruption.
The EFCC’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah, speaking on behalf of the agency’s Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, made this remark in May while speaking to media at the commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
“It is intriguing that Matawalle would want to take on the role of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to investigate,” Nwajah added. Is this an example of a ‘thief’ demanding that he not be touched until other ‘thieves’ are apprehended?
“The real issue with Matawalle is that he is being investigated by the EFCC on allegations of massive corruption, phantom contract awarding, and diversion of over N70 billion.”
“The money, which was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed, was sourced as a loan from an old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the state’s local government areas.”
“So far, the commission’s investigations have revealed that over 100 companies have received payments from the funds with no evidence of service to the state.” Some of the contractors who were invited and questioned by the panel revealed surprising revelations about how the governor reportedly forced them to return monies obtained from state coffers to him through his advisers after converting them to US dollars.
“They confirmed that they did not provide any service to Zamafara State, but were allegedly directed to convert the money paid to them into US dollars and return it to the state governor through some of his commissioners, particularly the commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs.”
According to Nwajah, one of the contractors implicated, a well-known Abuja property developer, earned N6 billion on a N10 billion contract without providing any service to Zamfara State.
He stated that another contractor received almost N3 billion for a contract to supply medical equipment, but the commission tracked a payment of N400 million from his account to a Bureau de Change operator. The contractor admitted that the payment was made to obtain the purported cash equivalent for the state governor.
“As part of the extensive investigation of contracts awarded by the Matawalle administration, particularly for phantom projects in local government areas, the commission recovered N300 million from a company called Fezel Nigeria Limited.” The monies were eventually traced back to the Zamafara Investment Company.
“The EFCC investigation is causing concern in Government House, Gusau, with the governor living in mortal fear of his fate after stepping down as governor on May 29.”
“State governors and their deputies in Nigeria enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, which is why the EFCC has yet to arrest Governor Matawalle,” he continued.
The EFCC is also investigating a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for suspected corruption involving 14 properties in Nigeria and overseas, as well as N400 million.
“The properties, including Hotel Apartment Community, Burj Khalifa lying, being, and situate at, Plot 160 Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No 1, Property No 401, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E., were reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity,” the anti-graft agency said in a May statement obtained by our correspondent.