EFCC: Olukoyede never held pre-defection meeting with any governor

Denials have trailed Paul Ibe’s allegation that Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), met with an incumbent governor and his predecessor 48 hours before they defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Ibe, an aide of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, alleged that the meeting took place at a government lodge in a south-south state.

Ibe, however, did not mention the names of the former and incumbent governors, but he said they are from a south-south state.

He also alleged that the “solicitor-general” was present at the meeting.

‘EFCC AGAINST PARTISAN TENDENCIES’

Reacting to the allegation, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said Olukoyede is “apolitical” and that the allegation is based on conjectures.

Oyewale said the EFCC chairman had previously stressed the agency’s firm stance against political bias.

“However, his allegations of the Executive Chairman EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede and Solicitor General of the Federation’s alleged meeting with an unnamed governor forty-eight hours before his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, are patently fabricated and in bad taste,” the statement reads.

“Olukoyede has stressed it at several fora that he is apolitical and the EFCC totally wired against partisan tendencies.”

‘ALLEGATION FROM THE PIT OF HELL’

Kamarudeen Ogundele, media aide to Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation, said Ibe’s claims are based on his imagination.

“Although he (Ibe) failed to mention their names, the discerning members of the public know those he could have been referring to,” the statement reads.

“However, we wish to state categorically that the allegation is from the pit of hell, and at best, a figment of the imagination of Mr Ibe.

“We know as a fact that the EFCC chairman and the Solicitor General of the Federation never met any serving or former governor as alleged by him.”

WAVE OF DEFECTIONS 

In recent months, several opposition leaders have crossed over to the ruling APC, triggering concerns that the country may be devolving into a one-party state.

Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta state, and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in April.

Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom, has expressed his intention to join the APC from the PDP.

Delta and Akwa Ibom states are in the south-south geopolitical zone.