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EFCC Has ‘Unprovoked Personal Hatred And Malice Against Me, Says Fayose

September 18, 2018

Replying to that in his latest letter, Fayose warned the commission against violating Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which vests immunity in him as a sitting Governor. He criticised the commission for the “unprovoked personal hatred and malice” against him.

Ayodele Fayose, Governor of  Ekiti State, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of nursing an “unprovoked personal hatred and malice” against him.

In a letter addressed to Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the EFCC, which was made available to journalists on Tuesday, Fayose insisted that he would not appear before its officials for questioning before October 16 — a day before the expiration of his governorship tenure.

Fayose had earlier written to the commission that he would be available to answer questions from the operatives of the commission on the said date.

However, the commission replied him, saying he must make himself available on Thursday, September 20.

Replying to that in his latest letter, Fayose warned the commission against violating Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which vests immunity in him as a sitting Governor.

He criticised the commission for the “unprovoked personal hatred and malice” against him.

“I acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 13th September 2018 requesting me to appear on the 20th September,” Fayose wrote.

“As a responsible citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who currently enjoys immunity under Section 308 of the Constitution, it would amount to a breach of the Constitution which I swore to uphold if I appeared in your office on any date earlier than 16th October 2018.

“If done otherwise, it will set a wrong precedent for the constitutional institution that I represent.

“While drafting my response to yours of 14th September 2018, my attention was drawn to your widely publicised letter of 12th September 2018 to the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, and similar agencies, directing them to watch and arrest me on an imagination that I might leave Nigeria to escape investigation.

“This development, to say the least, is disappointing and betrays your commission’s unprovoked personal hatred and malice against my person.”

He added that in consideration of events in the past few months, the EFCC had “presumed my guilt even prior to the commencement of an investigation”.

“This raises a serious question about the impartiality, independence or neutrality of the commission in the matter,” he said.

“I feel harassed, intimidated and embarrassed by the imputation of crime and the innuendos of criminality underlining your correspondence which, has been maliciously circulated widely.”