Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s associate Abiodun Agbele wired N1.35billion into three accounts to pay for four of the five duplexes the governor allegedly bought in Lagos; it was learnt yesterday.
The fifth duplex, which cost about N200million, is in Abuja.
The laundering of the cash was staggered to, detectives believe, cover up the details from the prying eyes of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC uncovered the lodgments in these accounts: FCMB belonging to Siqnachor (0519693019), First Bank of Nigeria (1000070240) and Zenith Bank (1014016919) of Still Earth Limited.
But the owner of Still Earth Limited, Oyindamola Adeyemi, has told the EFCC that her company neither secured a contract from Fayose, nor offered him a kickback.
She said the governor was yet to pay the agency fees to Still Earth on the four duplexes he acquired at Tiamiyu Savage Street on Victoria Island.
The facts on how Fayose, through his detained associate Agbele, paid for the duplexes are contained in some EFCC documents.
A top source said: “The payments were effected through De-Privateer Limited, which is owned by Agbele. The governor and his associate knew that they were involved in money laundering, and they cleverly opted to stagger the funds.
“We have retrieved the list of lodgements made by De-Privateer into three accounts, including FCMB belonging to Siqnachor (0519693019), First Bank of Nigeria (1000070240) and Zenith Bank (1014016919) of Still Earth Limited.
The breakdown of some of the remittances is as follows: First Bank—N40m (29/1/15); N39.5m (30/1/15); N132.5 (30/1/ 15); N3.2m (4/2/15); N980, 000(4/2/15); N200m (17/2/15); N47m (13/2/15); N50m (13/2/15).
The lodgments in an account in Zenith Bank (1014016919) include N42.5m (9/4/15); N25m (23/4/15); and N229m (6/3/15).
Agbele, also through De-Privateer, paid N200million into the account of Siqnachor Integrated Limited in FCMB (0519693019) on March 9, 2015.
The EFCC source added: “You can see what Fayose did with state funds within the first six months in office. This is just a segment of our ongoing investigation of the governor.
“We are yet to shift focus to other areas where state funds were diverted into personal use or associates’ accounts.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “We are going ahead with Friday’s interaction with three more people on the five properties bought by the governor.”
Still Earth boss Adeyemi has said that she neither executed any contract or gave Fayose kickback.
Adeyemi, who made the clarifications against the backdrop of the affidavit of the EFCC at the Federal High Court, said her company rejected a N5billion project from Ekiti State Government in place of the agency fees on the four duplexes in Lagos.
Adeyemi said: “I didn’t do any contract, and I never gave any kickback to the governor. Fayose offered us a N5billion contract, but we were circumspect, and we rejected it.
“In fact, at the time Fayose came up with the contract idea, our company’s relationship with him had gone sour.
“Still Earth is a construction and real estate firm. They bought four chalets from us through De-Privateer Limited. It was De-Privateer that paid us. So, if anybody or company offered a kickback to the governor, it must be De-Privateer.
“I felt sad that Still Earth has been linked to the kickback when we didn’t do any project in Ekiti State.
“It may interest you to know that Still Earth is a growing concern with over N2.5bn taxable turnover, managed by a very dedicated managing director whose intimidating resume command an ovation of credit.”
She went on to talk about the company’s remarkable projects all over the country in construction, real estate, and project financing. “Still Earth has constructed over 45 kilometer road around the country, several building projects and has financed laudable projects that impact the economy of our great nation,” She said, adding:
“All these efforts put together have always been championed by a woman known for her uprightness in her business and personal lifestyle. This is a woman who believes in achieving the result through struggles and hard work.”
