Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has disclosed that his 2014 governorship election campaign was funded by Zenith Bank Plc, donations from friends and associates, as well as proceeds from the sale of campaign souvenirs.
Fayose, who made the disclosure amid an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), also denied having any financial transaction with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki or former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
He said he had no dealings with either Obanikoro or the ONSA “either by cash, cheque or electronic transfer,” and challenged the EFCC to make public statements allegedly made by Obanikoro, his son or anyone associated with funds from the NSA office linking him to the money.
According to Fayose, the EFCC was conducting what he described as a politically motivated investigation designed to silence him as a prominent opposition voice.
“The management of Zenith Bank, which majorly funded my election, called me to a meeting where I was assured that funds would be provided for my election,” Fayose said.
He explained that he was asked to nominate a trusted associate who would be involved in the financial arrangements and that he nominated Mr Abiodun Agbele.
“All the payments into Abiodun Agbele’s account domiciled in Zenith Bank were directly from Zenith Bank,” he stated.
Fayose further alleged that the account was opened hurriedly by the bank at the time, claiming that Agbele’s identity card, which he said ought to have been collected when the account was opened, was only obtained later.
He said funds credited to Agbele’s account came through Zenith Bank branches in Ibadan, Akure and Lagos, while cash was sometimes delivered.
The governor also questioned the EFCC’s account of the movement of cash from Lagos to Akure, asking why, if the money was intended for his election campaign in Ekiti, it was not moved to the bank’s Ado-Ekiti branch or given directly to him.
“Why was it deposited into Zenith Bank, Akure and did the bank make any report on the transaction to the appropriate authorities?” he asked.
Fayose also questioned why the bank allegedly deployed a bullion van to move the money from Akure Airport to its Akure branch if the transaction was illegal.
On his alleged relationship with Obanikoro, the governor said he had no financial link with the former minister and maintained that Obanikoro could not identify him as a beneficiary of any funds allegedly received from the ONSA.
He also rejected claims that conflicting accounts from Obanikoro, his son and Zenith Bank undermined his explanation, arguing that people could have been pressured during the EFCC investigation.
Fayose warned that he would identify those who provided financial support for his election if they eventually withdrew or denied their roles because of alleged pressure from investigators.
“If it becomes evidently clear that those who willingly provided money for my election can no longer stand by what they did, maybe because of threat from the EFCC, I will not hesitate to name names,” he said.
Fayose Demands Probe Of APC Campaign Funding
Turning his attention to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Fayose challenged the EFCC to investigate the funding of APC election campaigns, including the campaign that produced President Muhammadu Buhari.
He argued that if financial assistance from Nigerians to political campaigns was being treated as suspicious, similar scrutiny should be applied to the funding of other political parties.
“Since we are now in the era in which financial assistance from Nigerians to fund elections is being criminalised, the international community, especially those funding EFCC must insist that the commission probes the funding of APC elections before further funds are released to the commission,” he said.
Fayose specifically referred to an allegation that Sahara Energy donated $60 million to the APC campaign and questioned why, according to him, the EFCC had suspended its investigation into the matter.
He maintained that the investigation against him was part of what he described as efforts by the Federal Government to intimidate him because of his criticism of the Buhari administration.
According to Fayose, he would not be deterred by threats of prosecution or imprisonment and would remain available to answer questions after leaving office.
“I advise that they should keep their gunpowder dry and wait till the end of my tenure in 2018. I want to assure them that I will be available to answer any of their questions, no matter how unreasonable,” he said.
The governor also recalled his previous legal battles with the EFCC, including a case involving an alleged N1.2 billion poultry project fraud, which he said ended in his favour.
Fayose further referred to a judgment awarding him N10 million against the commission and the Supreme Court’s decision concerning his earlier impeachment, presenting both as evidence of what he described as a pattern of persecution.
He also cited the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly by security operatives, a travel restriction allegedly placed on him and the freezing of his account by the EFCC as part of what he called a broader campaign against him.
Despite the controversies, Fayose said he would continue to speak on matters concerning governance and democracy.
“I will not be intimidated,” he declared.
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