The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has accused the leaderships of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of coercing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to back down on the prosecution of the former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for alleged graft.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo, who said this in a statement made available to journalists yesterday, maintained that efforts were allegedly being made in high places to stall Fayemi’s trial, in spite of the barrage of petitions against him to EFCC.
In a swift reply to the vitriolic attack, the state APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, who said the allegation was untrue, added that Fayemi has no case with the EFCC, branding the petition being cited by the PDP as ‘phantom and spurious.’
Olatunbosun said Fayemi had always insisted that he would make himself available if the PDP can produce evidence linking him with corruption, saying: “Fayemi is in the country. It is not as if he travelled out of the country. Why is the PDP just waking up with these accusations? They should stop these distractions.”
Adebayo said: “It has come to our notice that there is a sinister motive by the leaderships of the APC to put pressure on the presidency to halt the investigation of the former APC governor by the EFCC when it dawned on them that the various petitions before the EFCC on the financial mismanagement of the APC administration in Ekiti between 2010 must not be ignored again by the anti graft body in its current moves against past governors.”
“Adebayo maintained that some leaders of the APC were planning to approach President Muhammadu Buhari through his men from the North in a desperate attempt to shield Fayemi from arrest and prosecution by the EFCC, having been allegedly investigated by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police.
“The PDP, however, noted that the body language of the President has not suggested that he was in tune with those who had approached him as the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police is at the advance stage of handling over their findings to the EFCC to assist in the prosecution.
”We are aware that the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria police has reached advanced stage in their investigation of the financial
mismanagement of the immediate past government in Ekiti State and alleged outright diversion of money meant for the state to private pockets.
”We therefore call on President Buhari not to entertain any entreaty from any quarters that can lead to evasion of justice by the former
governor and his collaborators in the shady deals that has put Ekiti state in the present financial doldrums,” the PDP said.
“Adebayo said PDP was monitoring the development as it unfolds and would continue to support every move by any government agencies to retrieve stolen money from the state from anybody no matter how highly placed the person might be.
“What is paramount to the party is for the thieves who stole Ekiti money to return it so that the people can enjoy it again,” he said.
“Replying further, the APC spokesman, who described the PDP allegation as distraction, said: “Fayose cannot account for the monthly allocations to the state in the last eight months. He cannot account for the N22 billion by the federal government on projects executed by Fayemi administration, he cannot account for the N2billion ecological fund and the N2.1 billion bailout for Ekiti.
“The governor is also yet to explain where he got the N2.6 billion wage bill for the state when the wage bill was N2.3 billion under Fayemi with all political appointments and subventions,” Olatunbosun said.
