Ex-Ekiti PDP scribe wants EFCC to quiz SSG, rep over arm cash scandal

By Sunday Aloba, Ado-Ekiti 

A former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Dr. Tope Aluko has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to invite the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade and a member of the House of Representatives, Akin Awodumila on the alleged receipt of arms cash for the purpose of the June 21, 2014 governorship poll. 

According to Aluko, the two personalities are central to receipt and disbursement of funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under the leadership of the former occupant, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd). 

Speaking on a radio programme in Ado Ekiti, Aluko said by virtue of the role played by Mrs. Alade and Awodumila, they have lots of explanation to make on the matter. 

While Mrs. Alade was the Secretary of Ayo Fayose Campaign Organization, Awodumila who now represents Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2 was the Treasurer.

Aluko also revealed that Governor Ayo Fayose continued to receive cash from the arms fund which he allegedly deposited into his own account. He claimed that on August 22,2014 alone, Fayose deposited N170 million into his personal bank account. 

According the Ekiti poll fraud whistleblower also shed more light on the roles played by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele, in depositing huge cash “in suspicious circumstances” into the governor’s account. 

Aluko said: “Before the (PDP) primary election of March 28, 2014, funding came from the Presidency only. After the primary, various individuals, banks, corporate organizations registered with token amounts. 

“But after the election, contractors came with funds to solicit for patronage. The current SSG was the secretary of Fayose Campaign Organization while a member of the National Assembly representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2, Mr. Awodumila was the treasurer. 

“The two should be invited to tell all they know about transfer of funds from Abuja to fund the campaign. We know as a party that there was no record of Zenith Bank sponsorship of our election.”

Aluko revealed that Fayose who was broke before the 2014 primary and the main election received series of funds from the Presidency which were allegedly diverted into his account. 

He also gave a blow-by-blow account of transactions made on behalf of Fayose by Agbele and the ones the governor made by himself. 

Aluko said further: “On August 22, 2014, Agbele paid in N50 million cash and another N118.706 million into Fayose’s Account Number 1003126654. Agbele also paid N49 million into the account of Spotless Investment Limited Account Number 1010170969 on June 17, 2014 which was four days before election. 

“On August 4, 2014 after Fayose had become governor-elect, he (Fayose) deposited the following amounts in cash by himself-N40 million, N36 million, N35 million, N24 million, N20 million and N14 million totaling N170 million in one day. 

“So Zenith Bank gave him these funds to lodge in his own account with the bank after becoming governor-elect? So which election was the bank sponsoring? 

“The questions are many because Ayo Fayose was already governor-elect during this period and Zenith Bank could not have been sponsoring him from their bank and be using aircraft to bring cash from Abuja or Lagos to Akure.” 

Aluko explained further that the governor benefited “hugely” from from the cash deployed for Jonathan’s 2015 re-election project with funds coming from ONSA. 

He said: “Ayo Fayose was sworn in on 16th October, 2014 and by January 2015, he made the cash deposit of N145 million into the account of De-Privateer Limited and also on April 18, 2015, he paid cash of N70 million into the same account.

“The N300 million fixed deposit Account Number 9013074033 in April, 2015 from Abbey in Ayo Fayose’s name cannot be from Zenith Bank but from ONSA/Dasuki for presidential campaign and presidential election. 

“These funds were used to purchase choice properties in Abuja, Lagos and Dubai through other banks in Ekiti which the EFCC is working on.”