…..EFCC: Visits to Ambode’s house part of invesigation

…..No cause for alarm-Ambode

Footage has emerged of the moment operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission shot in the air in Epe area of Lagos as they attempted to search the country home of ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday morning.

An ex-aide to Ambode told The PUNCH that the ex-governor is out of the country.

A 35-second video posted by Coldblooded on Twitter shows people surrounding a minibus and a white pickup truck with at least two armed personnel parked in front of Ambode’s Epe residence.

Amidst the chaos, some of the EFCC operatives attempt to open their vehicles without success.

Moments after, one of the residents can be heard shouting in Yoruba, “Burst their tyres.”

As the commotion continues, the vehicles are forced to drive away, with the armed officers shooting intermittently into the air.

As they speed off, the back windshield of the bus appears to have been shattered.

It could not be ascertained if anyone was injured.

…..EFCC: Visits to Ambode’s house part of invesigation

According to the anti-graft agency, Ambode is among some former governors who are under investigation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has described its raid on the houses of ex-Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, as “part of investigations,” rather than a raid.

The EFCC, on Tuesday, raided two houses belonging to Ambode located in Park View Estate, Ikoyi, and Epe, both in Lagos State.

According to an ex-aide to the governor, who spoke with The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, Ambode is currently out of Nigeria, and the EFCC carried out its “investigation” in Ambode’s absence.

In a statement issued by the EFCC spokesman, Toni Orilade, after the media had reported the raids, the anti-graft commission said since Ambode no longer enjoys immunity, it was merely investigating him and that the raids of his houses were part of its investigation, and not a raid.

The statement read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has since early hours of today, been inundated with calls that operatives of the Commission raided the residence of the former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.

“We need to state for the records that the EFCC did not raid Ambode’s house. It is instructive that his administration, like other former governors is under investigation, since they no longer constitutionally enjoy immunity against prosecution.

“The Commission hereby states with high sense of responsibility that the operatives did not raid Ambode’s residence.
Whatever the Commission is presently doing with regards to the investigation is in line with its mandate and the rule of law.

“We wish to inform the social media to be circumspect in the reportage of any news with regards to investigation activities of the Commission.

“As a tradition, the Commission does not carry out investigation on the pages of the newspapers or through the media. Our operations are always covert until at a time when we file charges in court.

“Therefore, the attempt to cast the Commission in a bad light is unacceptable as the EFCC will never engage in illegal act. We remain committed to the war against corruption.”

…..No cause for alarm-Ambode

Meanwhile, Ambode, on Tuesday urged his supporters and the general public to remain calm and law-abiding as there was no cause for alarm.

Ambode, in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Habib Aruna, spoke on the backdrop of a search by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on his Epe Country home and Parkview Ikoyi residence, where the anti-graft agency conducted the exercise without any incident.

He said the Commission, till date, has not opened any direct communication with him on any issue, adding that he was ready and willing to respond if or when they do so.

The statement reads: “This morning, operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission visited the Epe Country home and Parkview Ikoyi residence of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, former Governor of Lagos State, with warrants to conduct a search. These searches were carried out extensively and at the end of the exercise the operatives left without any incident.

“The former Governor reiterates that the EFCC has till date not had any direct communication with him on any subject matter whatsoever and if or when it occurs he is ready and willing to respond.

“The former governor wishes to assure his supporters and the generality of Lagosians to continue to remain calm and law-abiding as there is no cause for alarm.”

The former governor reiterated his belief in the rule of law and due process and remains grateful for the opportunity to have served Lagos State diligently and conscientiously.

It would be recalled that Ambode, in an earlier response to allegations by the EFCC that it had frozen certain accounts linked to him, insisted that no account of his contained N9.9bn let alone being frozen by the Commission as those accounts were opened and operated by the Lagos State Government.

With additional reporting from Punch