Gov Fayose’s Bank Account Can Be Blocked During Investigation

The personal accounts of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and those of some of his associates have been frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Gov Fayose and EFCC

When contacted, the Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, did not, in clear terms, confirm that Fayose’s personal account was frozen. But asked if it was within the agency’s constitutional powers, he replied: “Under the constitution, government executives don’t have immunity on investigation. They can be investigated while in office but can’t be prosecuted. Also, an account can be blocked during investigation.”

Speaking on Gov. Fayose’s Bank Account Freezing, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay, SAN, who said the commission had been empowered to freeze accounts or assets of anyone under investigation.

Sagay, who hinged his assertion on a Supreme Court verdict to buttress his point, said: “If the EFCC is investigating anybody and they have reasons to believe that somebody has acquired state assets for himself, they are empowered by the law to apply to a court to freeze those assets, including banking assets, pending the enquiry and possible trial. So, they have that power. “For a governor, it is a unique situation, but the Supreme Court has already held that even if you enjoy immunity, you are also subject to being investigated. So, that would be one of the consequences of that investigation.”