Iyiola Omisore reacts to EFCC declaring wanted

The former Osun state deputy governor who was declared wanted today by EFCC for receiving N700 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, has released a statement describing the EFCC's action as blackmail. Read the statement below..

I read the statement issued by the Econimic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) purportedly declaring me wanted as an attempt by that organisation and its leadership to tarnish my image. That statement, if indeed it was issued by the EFCC, is the height of mischief and a deliberate attempt to assassinate my character.

It is now very clear that the EFCC is indeed playing out the script of persecuting and harassing perceived opposition groups in the country. To be sure, there is no basis for the EFCC so-called statement. Only on Tuesday, May 24, we appeared in court with the EFCC asking for the permission of the court for an extension of time in the preliminary objection to a suit filed against me.

The Managing Director of Firmex Gill which the EFCC joined in their case indemnified me from the company's contracts and any such obligations. In other words, there is nothing relating to me in the company's contract deal with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The company has even sued the ONSA for its inability to pay the balance of the contract so awarded to it. Therefore, I am not aware of any issue relating to a contract sum of N700 million. There was no issue of N700 million anywhere.

The relationship between the company and ONSA is civil and contractual, which has nothing to do with me. Besides, so long as their business transactions are legitimate and since I am not directly managing the company, how am I to know who and who they do business with? The EFCC should not be seen playing the role of political victimisation of innocent individuals, coercion and blackmail. Sadly that is simply what this organisation has been doing. Blackmail, I strongly believe, won't help EFCC.

If the organisation and its leadership think they have any case against me, they should come to court with their facts. This act of blackmail and deliberate tarnishing the image of perceived political enemies won't help the image of the EFCC and it won't get it result.

How can you declare someone you were in court with at 9.00a.m today wanted the same day, a few hours afterwards? I am appealing to all human rights and civil society organisations to caution EFCC from damaging my reputation further. If they have facts, I challenge them to bring them to court and not resort to blackmail, intimidation and victimisation.

Signed: Senator Iyiola Omisore