ICYMI: Fayose, Falana trade words over Abuja N1bn property

ICYMI: Fayose, Falana trade
words over Abuja N1bn
property
Kamarudeen Ogundele and Oladimeji Ramon
The Governor of Ekiti State , Mr. Ayodele
Fayose , has criticised human rights
lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN ), over the
allegation by the Attorney General of the
Federation , Abubakar Malami (SAN ),
linking the lawyer to a N 1 bn property
on Gana Street , Maitama, Abuja.
Fayose said it was embarrassing,
shameful, disgraceful that a man of
Falana ’s standing , reputed to be a
human rights activist , friend of the
masses, crusader of justice and defender
of democracy , could be linked to such a
scandal.
The embattled former chairman of the
defunct Pension Reform Task Team ,
Abdulrasheed Maina, had accused
Falana of buying the building which was
one of the properties he helped to seize
from suspected pension thieves and
handed over to the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission .
Malami had while testifying before the
National Assembly last week, echoed the
allegation, saying the property was sold
to a ‘ Lagos lawyer . ’
Reacting in a statement on Monday,
Fayose said it was sad and shameful that
Falana could be “ cited in such an odious,
obscene , and offensive conduct. ”
He said it was not surprising that Falana
had taken it upon himself to always
defend the EFCC , even when the anti -
graft agency acted lawlessly , since the
lawyer was allegedly benefitting from
the EFCC .
Fayose said , “ Linking Falana to illegally -
acquired properties seized by the EFCC is
bad enough but the facts provided by
Malami make the case against Falana
even worse. This must be the real reason
why Falana always fall head over heels
in defence of the EFCC and Magu , not
minding the vicious violations of the
constitutionally- guaranteed rights ,
freedoms, and liberties of citizens .
“ What we have always suspected has
now been confirmed publicly and by no
less a person as the Attorney General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice .
“ Falana ’s alleged unprincipled and
disgusting defence of the EFCC and
Magu’ s penchant for disrespect of the
rule of law and due process is for selfish
reasons and personal gain. ”
Fayose said the Federal Government
must investigate Falana and not allow
the matter be swept under the carpet .
But reacting to the call for his probe by
Fayose , Falana , in a telephone interview
with one of our correspondents,
lambasted the governor for failing to pay
attention to his earlier explanation on
his connection with the property.
He challenged Fayose and the AGF to
approach the court to seek a forfeiture
order on the N1 bn property if they were
sure it was proceeds of crime .
Falana said , “ I stand by my earlier
defence that I never bought the house
from the EFCC and I challenge him
(Fayose ) and the Attorney General to
show the evidence . I challenge the
garrulous Governor of Ekiti State to
prove the monstrous allegation that I
bought a house from the EFCC .
He added, “ Since Mr. Ayo Fayose has
not paid attention to the fact and
circumstances of the case, I advise him to
study my explanation that the house in
question is a subject matter of a pending
suit before the Federal High Court and
that the house has been forfeited to
AMCON in the interim .
“ The EFCC is not a party to the case . So,
if Mr. Ayo Fayose wants to join the suit,
he ’s free , he is at liberty to approach the
Federal High Court holding at Abuja to
prove his allegation . But his is a case of
Ajegbodo to nweni kun ’ra. (The one
recklessly eating fresh yam will always
want to co- opt others into the deal . ) .
“ As of today , he has already forfeited six
houses to the government of Nigeria . So,
if he is sure that that this is proceeds of
crime , he should apply to have it
forfeited. He should contact the Attorney
General, Mr. Malami , to apply to have
the house forfeited, if they are sure that
the house is proceeds of crime . ”
Falana said the governor had been
looking for a way to attack him “ since I
pressured the s