EFCC Raises Alarm Over Threat to Witnesses in Fayose’s Trial

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, December 4th, 2013

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday raised an alarm over threats to its witnesses scheduled to give evidences against former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose in a N416million suit instituted against him.

EFCC Counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi told Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado- Ekiti, Ekiti state that the witnesses are being harassed, intimidated and threatened.

”My lord, there is an issue I need to draw the attention of the court to. The serious issue that we are facing now is that witnesses in this matter are being threatened on their phones via calls and short messages and warned not to come and witness in this matter.

My lord, this is vital information for the court”, Adebisi said.

Fayose’s counsel, Owoseni Ajayi in a counter argument, absolve Fayose of any involvement in the alleged threats, describing the allegation by the EFCC as “a blanket allegation.”

Justice Hobon however, underlined the duty of the state to the witnesses, he said, “It is the duty of the government to protect its people, we promise to protect any witness when the time comes”.

At the resume hearing on Tuesday, principal prosecution witness, Abubakar Aliyu Madaki, continued his testimony before the court.

According to him, Biological Concept Limited, the company that handled the controversial poultry project for the former governor, was heavily indebted before the contract was awarded to it. “On April 28, 2004, as soon as the poultry project money, N340 million (Three Hundred and Forty Million Naira) was credited to Biological Concept’s account, a debt of over N58million owed by the company was cleared.

The fund that was used to complete the construction of Fayose’s house was about N44 million. It was taken from the poultry project’s fund”, he said.

Madaki further told the court that investigations showed that Fayose lied again in the entries he made in his asset declaration form that he had a balance of N100million each in two of his company’s accounts, before being elected governor. The companies are Spotlight Investment and Hero’s Investment Limited.

According to him, the balance in the accounts of the two Ibadan-based companies was nil before Fayose became governor. “My Lord, Fayose declared another N100 million in the account of one of his companies, Hero’s Investment Limited in Ibadan. When we investigated this information and we called the company’s managing director to confirm the matter, he said that he knew the accused and that he had never deposited any money into the company’s account.”

EFCC second witness, Mr Morakinyo Ogele, a legal practitioner, who was the petitioner confirmed his signature on the petition and the documents attached to it.

Justice Hobon thereafter adjourned the matter to December 4, 2013, for continuation of trial.