The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has disclosed why it still has the Osun state politician, Senator Iyiola Omisore in its detention.
The EFCC while giving reason for holding the Osun state politician revealed that investigations into the alleged connection between the former Senator and the office of the former National Security Adviser was still ongoing.
This was revealed in a counter-affidavit filed by the commission against an application for bail filed by Omisore before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Yusuf said the EFCC is ” investigating cases of alleged payments made by the office of 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 the office of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki Trtd) into the bank account of Sylvan Menamara Ltd domiciled at Diamond Bank, with nothing to show for 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 Diamondaccount, the sum of N160,000,000 was deposited into the said account on 4th August, 2014 by the then NSA. Thus sum was subsequently transferred into Firmex Gilt Ltd’s bank account domiciled at UBA Plc on 8th August 2014.
“Investigation so far carried out, reveals that the applicant received hundreds of millions of naira from the office of the National Security Adviser, with nothing to show for it.
“In the course of interviewing the applicant, he has mentioned names of persons and companies through which monies from the office of the National Security Adviser got to him.
“There is need to those persons and companies mentioned by the applicant to make some clarification. If the applicant is granted bail, he will interfere with witnesses and he will also prejudice and frustrate our on-going investigation”.
The EFCC’s lawyer, Takon Ndifon in a counter-affidavit argued that the continued detention of the Osun state politician was not against the law.
He argued that the fundamental rights enforcement suit initially filed before the court by Omisore was aimed at frustrating the investigative process.
He said: “Instead of honouring the invitation in line with his rescheduled date of 14th April, 2016, he came and misled this court by obtaining an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st respondent (EFCC) from unlawfully arresting and detaining him without following the due process of law”.
He further added that the continuous detention of the Osun state politician was in line with the warrant issued “to keep the applicant in its custody for 14 days pending the conclusion of its investigation and the arraignment of the applicant in court. Ndifon faulted Omisore’s claim to ill health, noting that he did not mention his ailment in his motion and that he also failed to establish that his purported ailment cannot be treated in the country.
“We further submit that, based on the applicant’s antecedent, if he is granted bail, he will abscond and he will never willingly present himself to the 1ts respondent for arraignment before any court of law.”
Omisore’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) further pleaded with the court to grant bail to his client on health grounds.
The presiding judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi after hearing both parties’ argument fixed his ruling for Friday.
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