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As you are all aware, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been investigating some projects in Ekiti State for some time now. Consequent upon this, almost all functionaries of the state government has been invited at one time or the other for interrogation up till now, no avenue had been availed His Excellency, Governor Ayo Fayose to make a statement of defence in connection with the matter.
As you are all aware, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been investigating some projects in Ekiti State for some time now. Consequent upon this, almost all functionaries of the state government has been invited at one time or the other for interrogation up till now, no avenue had been availed His Excellency, Governor Ayo Fayose to make a statement of defence in connection with the matter.
Similarly, members of the State Executive Council, the honourable Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly, Top Civil Servants, Aides of the Governor and contractors have been invited for questioning.
As a matter of fact, members of the State House of Assembly had been invited for more than six times. The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker have been detained once while the first set of five (5) members arrested spent 5 nights in the EFCC custody.
A new twist was however added to the matter when upon the invitation of the EFCC, all the 26 members of the House of Assembly left for Lagos on Wednesday 27th September 2006 only to be kidnapped by operatives of the EFCC and later taken to unknown destination aside their usual detention camps in Okotiebo and Ikoyi, Lagos.
Reports reaching me this morning indicate that the members had been coerced and intimidated to sign a notice of impeachment against me at their illegal detention camp obviously under duress in Lagos more than 200 kilometers from Ado-Ekiti their statutory sitting place. In the process, most of them have been dispirited.
In the light of this, I wish to restate the earlier statement of Governor Fayose that the EFCC is acting out the scripts of the opposition in Ekiti-State. The opposition had become vulnerable to the intimidating political stature of the Governor.
A situation where a body meant to be Anti-graft turns itself into a legislative council overnight is not only appalling and unconstitutional but also an invitation to anarchy.
While my government identifies with the anti-graft policy of the Federal Government, we abhore a situation where it has turned to a political tool of the enemies of this government.
I therefore in the interest of peace appeal to EFCC to release the members of the State House of Assembly to enable them continue with their constitutional responsibilities. I also appeal to the good people of Ekiti State to please remain calm and law abiding and not allow the situation to degenerate as we believe that the gang up will fail again.