SaharaReporters discovered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission questioned former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi for several hours before being granted bail.
On Thursday, the zonal leadership of the anti-graft agency in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, questioned the ex-governor.
Fayemi arrived at EFCC at about 9:40 am.
On Friday, sources told SaharaReporters that the former governor could only leave at midnight.
Mr Adeola Omotunde (SAN) and Chief Rufai Balogun, two prominent lawyers, accompanied the former governor, SaharaReporters learned.
A petition by Ekiti indigenes alleged that Fayemi used a phoney airport project to profit himself.
One source claimed that he bought billion-naira mansions in GRA (Government Reserved Area) in Ikeja.
On Thursday, SaharaReporters revealed that the Ekiti Patriotic Consultative Forum (EPCF) petitioned the EFCC to investigate and prosecute Fayemi for allegedly diverting public monies for the state’s abandoned cargo airport and other capital projects.
Petition Against Fayemi for Possible Corruption
The organisation demanded an investigation against Fayemi and his associates’ alleged theft in a May 10, 2023 letter to the agency’s chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
These schemes include contract inflation, money laundering, stealing State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) funds, and allocating false security votes for himself as governor.
Fayemi opened the Ekiti Cargo Airport in October 2022, and Nigerian Air Force ATR 42s landed at 10.20 am. The petition said Dr Fayemi claimed the airport was world-class, yet the runaway is 3.2 km long and 60 metres wide.
It’s frustrating that the airport must still be completed months after its opening. No control tower yet.
According to Mr. Sam Adurogboye, spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), military jets land anywhere while the cargo apron and runway marking are being created. The committee said that military planes landing at the airport may not necessarily signify full activity.
Ponti-Italware Nig. Ltd. was paid N115,170,273.32 for earthwork for the New Governor’s Office, but the site was abandoned, and little work was done, the group said.
“The contract for building the New Governor’s Office was awarded to Messrs Interkel Nig. Ltd. 12 Maitama Sule Street, Southwest Ikoyi, Lagos, on March 12014N2027,495,857.45 was the contract’s total estimated value; Out of the N608,248,757.24 (30%) mobilisation fee N100,000,000 was paid to the contractor with no results show for the payment N5.25 billion bond and N5 billion commercial bank loan.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi borrowed N25 billion from the capital market during his first term in office from 2010 to 2014. In October 2011 and January 2014, N20 billion and N5 billion were paid for this.
The House of Assembly adopted the Bond Prospectus, but monies were diverted to unstated projects.
The Civic Centre was given N1 billion. However, N1 465,401,522.72 from the bond was utilised, leaving it to be completed. The contractor was paid N1,457,945,445.44 for the State Pavilion, which was unfinished.
“Using Fountain Holdings Limited business with N15 million share capital to secure N5 billion loan on June 21, 2014, towards Ekiti State governorship election. EcoBank gave the N5 billion loan without going via the Debt Management Office, so it would be used for important projects like road building (DMO).
Our question is: Can Fountain Holdings Ltd build roads for the Ekiti State Government?
We need clarification on how EcoBank could lend N5bn to a company with N15m share capital without involving the DMO. The N5 billion loan may have supported Fayemi’s failed re-election campaign as it has yet to be used.
On July 27, 2012, KOURIS Construction Nigeria Ltd was awarded a government building construction contract. The payment was N2,054,573,822.00.
“Curiously, on October 10, 2014—five days before Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s administration ended—the same business received another N730,186,636.87 contract for more work. Errors in the project’s initial Bill of Quantities necessitated further work.
“Considering that a contract was awarded on July 27, 2012, why wait until the last minute of the administration on October 102014, when there were five days left that the administration suddenly realised that there were flaws when the project’s first Bill of Quantities was computed?”
The forum also reported overcharged road rehabilitation contracts.
SaharaReporters reported numerous airport constructions unfinished in October 2022.
It said that the airport’s most crucial facility, Air Traffic Control (ATC), still needed to be completed.
SaharaReporters stated that Fayemi bribed the Nigerian Air Force to release its fighter plane, which could land anywhere.
The runway was rushed to land the fighter plane, but the airport is unfinished. Only military jets may land there, and all controls still need to be made. He bribed and exploited the Nigerian Air Force to convince the public that he built the airport and deployed a military aircraft flown by an Ekiti native.
“All visitors to the swearing-in travelled to Akure, where most were helicoptered to Ado-Ekiti. After taking office, the new governor froze all state accounts and skipped the airport opening. To avoid stealing the spotlight, Fayemi just inaugurated it in his name. a source told SaharaReporters.
Fayemi’s Ekiti-funded Properties
The petition claims Fayemi bought five houses with Ekiti State Government monies. He could not publish his assets after leaving office in 2014 and 2022.
The petition stated, “It may interest you to know that Dr Fayemi declared and published in 2010 the following properties: i. N30 million undeveloped land in Abuja’s Guzape District.
“ii. An undeveloped parcel of land in Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos for N25 million; iii. An undeveloped tract at Ambassadorial Enclave, Legon, Ghana, worth US$250,000. Nonetheless, Dr Kayode Fayemi has used Ekiti State Government monies to develop the unoccupied lands. Dr. Fayemi’s three properties and two others outside his salary and benefits are: (A house was built on a vacant plot of land in Abuja’s Guzape District. The house lies on Wada Nas Street in Guzape District, Abuja, FCT. House worth N500 million.
A N700 million mansion was built on an undeveloped tract of land in Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos.
“The undeveloped tract of property at Ambassadorial Enclave, Legon, Ghana has been developed and a $2 million residence put on it. (iv) Governor Fayemi bought 55 Oduduwa Crescent.
“He paid for the property with Ekiti State Government cash through Mr Tayo Ayeni of Skymit Limited, an auto company. EFCC arrested Mr Ayeni for property theft. The house costs N500 million. Dr. Fayemi bought a 500-million-Naira mansion in Jericho, GRA, Ibadan, Oyo state.
“Dr. Fayemi bought a mansion (St Peter White House) belonging to Late Aderanti Adeyinka besides Fresh FM Radio Station, Falegan Street, along Ado-Ilawe Road, Ado Ekiti State through the front. The Ekiti State Government renovated his N300 million mansion.
Background
On May 17, SaharaReporters revealed Fayemi’s effort to avoid the anti-graft agency’s headquarters after being summoned.
Before accepting the invitation, the former governor asked the commission to let him present a book honouring former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 19.
The EFCC requested that the former governor come before the zonal command office in Kwara State to answer money laundering questions in a May 12 letter.
Micheal Nzekwe, the EFCC’s zone commander, wrote that Fayemi should appear on May 18.
In a May 15 follow-up letter, the ex-governor said he organised and reviewed one of Buhari’s books.
“Our client is in receipt of your letter of invitation dated May 12 2023 for an appointment on Thursday, May 18 2023,” Fayemi’s lawyer stated.
The letter states, “Our client is engaged on May 18, 2023, as he is preparing for a public presentation and launching of two new books in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari, titled: ‘State of Repair: How President Muhammad Buhari Tried to Change Nigeria For Good’ by Anthony Goldman and ‘The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari’ by Abu Ibrahim slated for May 19, 2023, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja by 10:00 am.
Our client is a programme organiser and will review a book. Before your invitation, our customer committed to other initiatives. Due to the aforementioned information, we regret to notify you that our client cannot honour your invitation on May 18 2023.”
Fayemi’s Lobbying To Be Tinubu’s Minister To Avoid Probe
SaharaReporters exclusively reported Fayemi’s pushing for President Tinubu’s cabinet.
Many sources said the former governor was “hustling” to be Foreign Minister.
Tinubu rejected the move despite lobbying from governors like Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State.
Fayemi sought Governor Wike, Governor Badaru, and others to pressure Tinubu to appoint him foreign affairs minister, but the incoming president refused.
“Tinubu snubbed him, claiming he’s not the only guy from Ekiti State,” a source told SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters said that Fayemi requested the EFCC to reschedule his invitation date because he heard Tinubu will announce his cabinet before May 30, 2023, and he believed his participation would assist him fend off the anti-graft agency.
A source close to Tinubu told SaharaReporters that Fayemi begged EFCC for additional time since he heard Tinubu would unveil his cabinet before May 30.
