Lawyers allege EFCC planned planting foreign currency in Ambode’s house

• EFCC says it’s false alarm, claims its officers were attacked

 

BY JOEL OGBU

Three lawyers have disclosed how they thwarted alleged plan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to plant foreign currency in the home of former Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, in Epe.

Fatai A. Adebanjo, Busari M. Olanrewaju and Samson K. Okuneye claimed in a statement they issued that the EFCC agents who had conducted a search on the home of the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Tuesday, had refused to avail them of the content of a particular blue bag while they conducted their search.

The lawyers’ statement published by VANGUARD reads: “At early hours of today (Tuesday), we were duly briefed that some officers of the EFCC invaded the apartment of the Former Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode with the intention to search the premises.

“We got to the scene and met with the officials of the EFCC to inquire whether they have a search warrant to search the premises of the ex-governor.

“Having confirmed the Search Warrant, the EFCC officials told us that nobody will follow them in as they will only go in alone. We resisted as young Lawyers and stated expressly that the principle of search is that the owner of the premises of his representatives must be present to observe the search.

“They succumbed to our superior argument and allowed us and the people who has the key to the ex-governor’s house into the apartment with them. Before they entered, we searched all the officials of the EFCC who intended to go in to effect the search.

“There was a blue bag which they were holding with them, we requested to see the content of the bag before they could take it in. They got angry and said we cannot see the content. Having said that, we strongly resisted them to take it in, since they did not allow us to see it, which they later agreed. We later got to know that the bag contained foreign currency which they brought to plant in the house of the former Governor to incriminate him.

“It is important to inform the public that before they entered the house, we all submitted our phones to them as they requested that the only person required to go in with phone is one of them who will record the whole process.

“All documents, including the State Executive Exco Meetings Vol 1 – 16 in the personal study of the ex-governor and his luggage room which they intended to take along with them for further investigation was resisted by us as we told them that failure to take records of all the documents from A-Z, they cannot go out with anything and they agreed with us.

“Flowing from the aforesaid, they searched the nooks and crannies of the ex-governor’s house and they couldn’t find any incriminating documents or materials. We authoritatively assert that they did not find anything in the house and they didn’t leave the house with anything.

“We followed them as they entered from one place to the other. When our presence was intimidating them, they said we should sit down while they will do the search. We resisted that we must follow them to observe every of their activities in the premises. Attempts to take the blue bag in the premises through the window was thwarted.

“To our greatest consternation, the officials of EFCC led by Rotimi Oyedepo, held on to our phones and told us to follow them to their office in Ikoyi to get our phones. All effort to get back our phones was abortive as the EFCC officials led by Rotimi Oyedepo, rushed into their white Hiace Bus with our phones and instructed that since we have resisted their efforts to take “the said blue bag” into the main premises of the ex-governor, they will hold on to the phone. Thus, almost six (6) phones were forcefully taken away, iPhones inclusive.

“It is our happiness as Young Lawyers in Epe to be part of the process to legally and successfully resist the EFCC from incriminating the ex-governor with the blue bag they brought with them from an unknown destination, and we also compelled them to conduct the search within the ambit of the law. Hence, the success.

“We are sincerely elated that our presence really helped a long way to legally and successfully expose the intention of the EFCC to incriminate the ex-governor. To this end, we are ready to challenge the search as they have gone beyond standard and the search warrant in this regard successfully whisking our phones away.”

The EFCC, however, has denied that it planned planting foreign currency in Mr. Ambode’s house, according to a statement by the agency’s head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren

The statement reads: “The attempt by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to execute a search warrant on the residence of a former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode was on Tuesday August 20, 2019 resisted by hoodlums loyal to the (former) governor.

“The thugs attacked the operatives and vandalized their vehicle.

“The Commission had obtained valid warrant to conduct search on Ambode’s residences in Park View, Ikoyi and country home in Epe, as part of on-going investigation of alleged malfeasance.

“However, the Commission’s operatives were attacked and prevented from executing the search warrant in Epe by irate youths who injured three officers and damaged EFCC official vehicle.