Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrested two cabinet members of Ekiti State just as Governor Ayodele Fayose declared his presidential ambition for 2019.
Toyin Ojo, the Ekiti State finance commissioner and the state’s attorney general were arrested by the EFCC at about noon in Ekiti State, Lere Olayinka, an aide to Governor Fayose confirmed on Facebook.
“Fear of Governor Fayose’s presidential declaration? EFCC moved to Ekiti today and arrested commissioner for finance and accountant general,” Olayinka wrote on the social media platform. “Keep arresting, Fayose is not afraid of you.”
Olayinka also took to Twitter to express resolve against the EFCC.
The next thing will be the media trial, but this EFCC should know that we are undaunted.
— Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) September 28, 2017
The Fayose presidential race declaration event which was held at the Chelsea Hotel in Abuja on Thursday, September 28, 2017, was attended by leaders of the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister and vocal opposition leader, confirmed the anti-graft commission’s actions while slamming the pettiness of the Muhammadu Buhari-led regime.
“@GovAyoFayose declares his intention to run for the Presidency today and whilst he was in the hall doing so the security agencies arrested the Commissioner of Finance and Accountant General of his state. Such pettiness,” Chief Fani-Kayode said on micro-blogging website, Twitter.
@GovAyoFayose declares his intention to run for the Presidency today and whilst he was in the hall doing so the security agencies arrested the Commissioner of Finance and Acc. Gen. of his state. Such pettiness!
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) September 28, 2017
As Fayose declared his presidential run, he blasted the Muhammadu Buhari regime for its draconian approach to governance and poor management of the Nigerian economy. He also sought to convince PDP leaders that placing zoning above merit was not in the best interest of the country. Read his full speech HERE.
“They were picked up today following their refusal to honour previous invitations for interrogation in relation to pending investigation on the misuse of bailout funds by the Ayodele Fayose administration,” Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement to The Trent.
