Some Lawyers in Epe believed to be loyalists of Akinwunmi Ambode, former governor of Lagos state, said the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wanted to incriminate the former governor.
Lawyers narrated how they forestall the plan of the anti-graft agency to plant foreign currency in Ambode’s Epe residence.
Operatives of the anti-graft agency had raided the Epe residence of the ex-governor on Tuesday morning.
In a statement, Fatai Adebanjo, Busari Olanrewaju and Samson Okuneye, all lawyers, said they stood their ground and resisted pressure from the agency.
Tony Orilade, spokesman of the agency, had said the operation was part of investigation of the former governor.
Ambode, however, said he didn’t receive any information about him being investigated prior to the raid.
The lawyers said officials of the commission initially told them that they would go into the house alone but they did not allow that happen.
“At early hours of today, we were duly briefed that some officers of the EFCC invaded the apartment of the Former Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode with the intention to search the premises,” they said.
“We got to the scene and met with the officials of the EFCC to inquire whether they have a search warrant to search the premises of the Ex Governor.
“Having confirmed the Search Warrant, the EFCC officials told us that nobody will follow them in as they will only go in alone. We resisted as young Lawyers and stated expressly that the principle of search is that the owner of the premises of his representatives must be present to observe the search.
“They succumbed to our superior argument and allowed us and the people who has the key to the Ex Governor’s house into the apartment with them. Before they entered, we searched all the officials of the EFCC who intended to go in to effect the search.
“There was a blue bag which they were holding with them, we requested to see the content of the bag before they could take it in. They got angry and said we cannot see the content. Having said that, we strongly resisted them to take it in since they cant allow us to see it, which they later agreed. We later got to know that the bag contained foreign currency which they brought to plant in the house of the Ex Governor to incriminate him.”
The lawyers said they handed over their phones to the EFCC team led by Rotimi Oyedepo, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), only for their phones to be confiscated by the commission and taken their office afterwards
“It is important to inform the public that before the entered the house, we all submitted our phones to them as they requested that the only person required to go in with phone is one of them who will record the whole process,” they said.
“Flowing from the aforesaid, they searched the nooks and crannies of the Ex Governor’s house and they couldn’t find any incriminating documents or materials. We authoritatively assert that, they did find anything in the house and they didn’t leave the house with anything.
“We followed them as they entered from one place to the other, when our presence was intimidating them, they said we should sit down while they will do the search. We resisted that we must follow them to observe every of their activities in the premises.
“To our greatest consternation, the officials of EFCC led by Rotimi Oyedepo, Esq held on to our phones and told us to follow them to their office in Ikoyi to get our phones. All efforts to get back our phones was abortive as the EFCC officials led by Rotimi Oyedepo, Esq rushed into their white Hiace Bus with our phones and instructed that since we have resisted their efforts to take “the said blue bag” into the main premises of the Ex Governor, they will hold on to the phone. Thus, almost six (6) phones were forcefully taken away, iPhones inclusive.
“It is our happiness as Young Lawyers in Epe to be part of the process to legally and successfully resist the EFCC from incriminating the Ex Governor with the blue bag they brought with them from an unknown destination, and we also compelled them to conduct the search within the ambit of the law. Hence, the success.”
A federal high court in Lagos had ordered the freezing of three bank accounts allegedly linked to the former governor over a N9.9 billion fraud.
Ambode later denied having any personal link to the account.