Fayose, Falana trade words over Abuja N1bn property

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 N1bn 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 N1bn 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 state to charge Mr. Fayose and his armed
goons with the cold-blooded murder of Dr. Ayo Daramola and Tunde
Omojola.”

Culled: Punch

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 N1bn 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 N1bn 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 state to charge Mr. Fayose and his armed
goons with the cold-blooded murder of Dr. Ayo Daramola and Tunde
Omojola.”

Culled: Punch