Rights activist and anti-corruption crusader, based in Benin, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for allegedly refusing to investigate alleged fraud perpetrated by former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
He insisted that the EFCC refused to attend to a well-detailed petition he submitted to the anti-graft agency on October 28, 2016, which was published in the Daily Sun of November 7, 2016, together with other national newspapers, bordering on economic and financial crimes against Oshiomhole.
In a motion ex-parte, Ochei is praying the court to, as a matter of urgency, compel the EFCC to commence the investigation and prosecution of the former governor; pursuant to sections 6 (b) & (h) and 13 (2) of the EFCC Act, 2004.
In his suit, the applicant said he has complained to the EFCC about allegations of corrupt practices against Oshiomhole, on a number of occasions, without eliciting any response or interest from the EFCC in this regard. He insisted EFCC failed to examine and investigate the said allegations upon such reports to it.
Ochei said that EFCC owes Nigeria and Edo State a duty to unearth the truth by meticulously investigating these allegations to ascertain the extent of complicity and culpability of the 2nd respondent with respect to these allegations levelled against him. The motion ex-parte filed by the applicant’s counsel, West Idahosa and Co., stated Oshiomhole’s legitimate means of income as governor.
Among the allegations made against Oshiomhole are the following: “That the Applicant repeated the allegation that the 2nd respondent built a sprawling mansion worth more than N10 billion in his home town known as Iyanho, Edo State. The said building was constructed by Verissimo, a South African architectural outfit. The said house of the 2nd respondent has swimming pools, water fountains, multiple theatres for cinema and live performances, huge event halls, bridges, manmade lake, lodges of different sizes among others. The said cost of the mansion is well outside the 2nd respondent’s legitimate income. The 2nd respondent’s lifestyle and extent of the said property were not justified by his sources of income. The applicant’s petition is attached as Exhibit “B”, while the reminder from the applicant is attached as Exhibit ‘B1.’
“That the 2nd respondent bought a property along Okoro-Otun Avenue, G.R.A., Benin owned by Edo State Government while serving as governor of Edo state in an insider deal without due process and in abuse of his oath of office. The Okoro-otun property acquired by the 2nd respondent was originally given to University of Benin as a gift by Edo state government. The 2nd respondent, while a dispute was pending in court between University of Benin and Edo state government, forcibly acquired the property for his personal use…”