Tobi Soniyi in Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, has to remain in its custody pending the time onwould conclude investigation on allegation that he received funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The commission said it had already established that funds were allegedly transferred to Omisore from the ONSA.
The commission said its investigation of Omisore’s alleged involvement in the diversion of state’s funds through the ONSA was still on-going and that would need to hold on to the ex-deputy governor to prevent him from absconding.
An EFCC’s investigator, Kassim Yusuf, in a counter-affidavit the commission filed against an application for bail filed by Omisore before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, gave copious reason why Omisore must remain in the commission’s custody.
Yusuf, who stated that former deputy governor’s arrest and detention were backed by court orders, said the commission was planning to invite some Omisore’s associates, whom he named during interrogation.
He said the EFCC was “investigating cases of alleged payments made by the office of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) to individuals and companies, with nothing to show for it.
“In one of the alleged cases which the 1st respondent (EFCC) is investigating, the name of the applicant (Omisore) featured prominently as a sole signatory to Firmex Gilt Ltd’s bank account domiciled at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
“A copy of a letter to UBA, forwarding signatory mandate card and statement of account of Firmex Gilt Ltd is hereby attached.
“Several payments were also made by Dasuki into the bank account of Sylvan Menamara Ltd domiciled at Diamond Bank, with nothing to show for it.
“Copies of e-payment schedules from ONSA and statement of accounts of Sylvan Menamara Ltd are hereby attached.
“From Sylvan Menamara Ltd’s Diamond account, the sum of N160,000,000 was deposited into the said account on August 4, 2014 by the then NSA. Thus sum was subsequently transferred into Firmex Gilt Ltd’s bank account domiciled at UBA Plc on August 4, 2014.
“Investigation so far carried out reveals that the applicant received hundreds of millions of naira from the office of the NSA, with nothing to show for it.
Omisore’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) urged the court to grant his client bail. He faulted Omisore’s continued detention and argued that the court, having restrained the EFCC from arresting him, his current detention was illegal.
Uche also referred to his client’s ill health, which he said required that he be released from custody and allowed to attend to seek medical attention outside the country.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, after listening to parties, fixed ruling for today.
