'How Fayose Paid Ozekhome N75M From N1.2 Billion Dasuki Loot" – EFCC Reveals

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday accused Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose of paying N75 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, from the N1.2billion which the governor allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Sambo Dasuki.

According to The Nation, the commission said it froze Ozekhome’s account because the money was suspected to be a proceed of crime.

Ozekhome prayed Justice Abdullazeez Anka to unfreeze his firm’s account, which the court froze at EFCC’s instance on February 7.

However, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo argued that the account should not be unfrozen because Ozekhome should have been aware that the money he received was proceeds of “fraudulent activities.

“The N75million is from the proceed of the alleged crime fraudulently taken from  ONSA and kept in Fayose’s account from where it was transferred to Ozekhome,” he said.

He argued that the EFCC could freeze any account suspected to have received criminal funding even if it was not in possession of the person committing the unlawful act. He said nothing had been shown to contradict the fact that the money came from the ONSA, and insisted that Ozekhome could not claim ignorance of the source of the income.

Ozekhome said he wrote Fayose demanding payment, and that the governor sought his understanding because his account was frozen. He added that the N75million was part-payment for professional fees having handled eight cases for Fayose and his aides – the total sum owed his chambers by Fayose being N250million.

Ozekhome said EFCC never served him with the order (Obtained 47 days after the N75 million was transferred) as required by the court’s rules, adding that it was done in bad faith and to tarnish his image.

The senior advocate posited that it was wrong for EFCC to conclude that the money was proceeds of crime when Fayose, who enjoys immunity, had not been tried or convicted.

Justice Anka adjourned till April 3 for ruling.