- Firm denies link with Fayose
Ejiofor Alike
The Operations Controller of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and former National Secretary of the association, Mr. Mike Osatuyi, has denied reports that Chance Oil was sealed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its alleged link with the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose.
Osatuyi, who is also the Group Managing Director of Chance Oil, said in a statement at the weekend that the mega filling station, which is located at Lambe in Akute area of Ogun State, was sealed by the State Government over non-payment of the approval permit fees.
He clarified that the mega station was not sealed by the EFCC, stressing that the company has no link with the Ekiti State Governor as alleged.
Osatuyi further stated that Chance Oil has no connection with Gov. Fayose, and urged the media to verify their facts before rushing to publish.
“I urge Nigerian journalists to engage in investigative journalism rather than involving in peddling wrong information that was not confirmed. I don’t have any connection whatsoever with Gov. Fayose. The station was sealed by Ogun State Government on the account of non-payment of permit. The closure has no link with EFCC,” he explained.
The filling station was reported to have been sealed off by operatives of the EFCC for reasons yet unknown but Osatuyi said it was the Ogun State Government that sealed the multi-million naira mega station.
Fayose had also denied any link with the filling station and urged the anti-graft commission to adequately verify its information before acting.
The Ekiti governor, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the EFCC was acting in unbelievable manner by not adequately verifying its information before going after his boss.
“It is ridiculous to say such thing about a person who has been governor for two years. How would you say Fayose has a filling station at Akute. If he would have had a filling station, he would have had it along Lagos-Ibadan Express Way or Lekki and other highbrow areas and not Akute. Does he even have any link with Akute? Fayose would rather have something like NNPC mega station, which would have had at least 20 pumps. He has been a successful businessman before becoming governor.
“When I hear some of these things, I am just surprised. Last week, because Fayose used a guest house, Brilla Bicaso at Gana Street, Abuja, they wanted to lock down the place. The operator of the place dared them. They wanted him to provide evidence to show that he owns the place. He said they should lock the place and that he would meet them in court. He later said he is not the actual owner of the place. He leased it from Domkat Bali (former Chief of Defence Staff).
“They went there in their ‘gra gra’ manner, whereas they have access to government information. They should check with relevant authorities like the Ministry of Lands before taking actions. In other climes, you are supposed to have concluded investigation before you go after people. But they would want to arrest people and want them to provide evidence against themselves. I would not act this way if I am the EFCC chairman. It is insulting. How can you say he (Fayose) has a filling station at Akute? They should operate like people with brain. It is like vendetta mission has beclouded their sense of reasoning,” Olayinka explained.
