‘EFCC under pressure to prosecute ex-Lagos gov’

A Lagos-based pro-democracy group, Nigerian New Transformation Agenda Group (NNTAG), has given the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a 7-day ultimatum to prosecute a former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Abode for allegedly defrauding the state.

In a statement on Tuesday jointly signed by the group’s national coordinator and its secretary, Mr. Nelson Ologun and Mrs. Olayemi Juliet, alleged that the state suffered gross mismanagement under the watch of Mr. Ambode.

According to the group, the EFCC has up to seven days to commence full probe and prosecution of Mr. Ambode, to avoid massive protest by many Lagosians who suffered the consequences of Mr. Ambode’s maladministration.

“Last week, it was widely reported in the media how a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court ordered the freezing of three bank accounts linked to Mr. Ambode, over an alleged N9.9 billion fraud.

“And from our independent investigations, we have evidence to show how Mr. Ambode took undue advantage of his office as governor to defraud the state, leaving her in a debt of N250 billion.

“Through our independent investigation we have been able to verify that while Mr. Ambode served as Lagos State governor, he diverted state funds to buy himself a mansion worth $300million in the United Kingdom.

“Apart from stashing Lagos State’s funds in different accounts of his friends and loved ones, we have strong evidence of how Mr. Ambode used his connection with Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, to milk dry Lagos State treasury and how Craneburg Construction Company acted as Mr. Ambode’s conduit pipe,” the statement read in part.

The group, therefore, said it was time to speak up and call for justice on his fraudulent acts, after having been silent about it over the years.

“To keep silent at this point will amount to hypocrisy and a compromise of our core values as a pro-democracy group, yearning for new and corruption free Nigeria.

“As a supporter of the ongoing anti-corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, we believe that transparency and accountability in governance is key to socio-political and economic development of Lagos State and Nigeria at large,” the statement added.

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