The former Osun state deputy governor who was declared wanted today by EFCC for receiving N700 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, has released a statement describing the EFCC’s action as blackmail. Read the statement below..
I read the statement issued by the Econimic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) purportedly declaring me
wanted as an attempt by that organisation and its
leadership to tarnish my image.
That statement, if indeed it was issued by the EFCC, is the
height of mischief and a deliberate attempt to assassinate
my character.
It is now very clear that the EFCC is indeed
playing out the script of persecuting and harassing
perceived opposition groups in the country.
To be sure, there is no basis for the EFCC so-called
statement. Only on Tuesday, May 24, we appeared in court
with the EFCC asking for the permission of the court for an
extension of time in the preliminary objection to a suit filed
against me.
The Managing Director of Firmex Gill which the EFCC joined
in their case indemnified me from the company’s contracts
and any such obligations. In other words, there is nothing
relating to me in the company’s contract deal with the Office
of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The company has
even sued the ONSA for its inability to pay the balance of
the contract so awarded to it.
Therefore, I am not aware of any issue relating to a contract
sum of N700 million. There was no issue of N700 million
anywhere.
The relationship between the company and ONSA
is civil and contractual, which has nothing to do with me.
Besides, so long as their business transactions are
legitimate and since I am not directly managing the
company, how am I to know who and who they do business
with?
The EFCC should not be seen playing the role of political
victimisation of innocent individuals, coercion and
blackmail. Sadly that is simply what this organisation has
been doing. Blackmail, I strongly believe, won’t help EFCC.
If the organisation and its leadership think they have any
case against me, they should come to court with their facts.
This act of blackmail and deliberate tarnishing the image of
perceived political enemies won’t help the image of the
EFCC and it won’t get it result.
How can you declare someone you were in court with at
9.00a.m today wanted the same day, a few hours
afterwards? I am appealing to all human rights and civil
society organisations to caution EFCC from damaging my
reputation further. If they have facts, I challenge them to
bring them to court and not resort to blackmail, intimidation
and victimisation.
Signed:
Senator Iyiola Omisore
Li
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