Fayose storms Zenith Bank, withdraws #5m from de-frozen accounts

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday besieged the Ado-Ekiti branch of Zenith Bank Plc and withdrew money from his personal accounts that were earlier frozen on the orders of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The two accounts, which had the sum of N82 million and N300 million respectively, were frozen by the EFCC earlier this year, but a judgment by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti last Tuesday, declared the action of the anti-graft agency as illegal and uncostitutional.

Fayose, who spent about two hours inside the banking hall, served the manager of the branch the court judgment.

An elated Fayose, who spoke to reporters after collecting the sum of N5 million from one of the accounts, said he used a counter cheque to do the transaction.

"I came here with the court judgment and the orders made by the court that my account be de-frozen and that I be given access to my money. I came with the intention that I won't leave the banking hall unless my money is paid. I m‎aintain two accounts with the bank and one has N82 million in it and the other has N300 million.

"I wrote a counter cheque that I be given N5 million and the management got ‎in contact with their headquarters and afterwards my money was paid me. The EFCC only acted in an overzealous manner. The law that established them also guaranteed my position as a serving governor who enjoys constitutional immunity. I thank Nigerians who stood by me. We must not allow people to use state powers to trample on the law and the rights of other people," he said.

Asked what would happen if the EFCC appeals the court judgment, Fayose stressed that th‎at was the anti-graft agency's problem.

"Whether they appeal or not is EFCC's funeral. That does not concern me. But if they touch my accounts, I will make serious t‎rouble with them. EFCC should stop being over-zealous and act within the law. I am a sitting governor and we should all abide with the law and the constitution of the land," he said.

Responding to a question of whether he would close the accounts, the governor said he would not do that and commended Zenith Bank for obeying the order of the court.

Recall that the EFCC froze the accounts some months ago, citing some court orders.

However, Justice Taiwo, in his judgment, said the EFCC did not make full disclosure to the court that the owners of the accounts was a serving governor who enjoys constitutional immunity.