News facts are emerging as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's (EFCC) detectives exposed how Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose bought four duplexes in Lagos and one in Abuja for N1.35 billion within six months in office.
Following the discovery, the EFCC has summoned three more people for quizzing on Friday in relation to the ongoing investigation of the governor.
One of those invited, Oyin Daramola, an estate agent, is said to have told the EFCC team that she did a legitimate business. And that she has never been fraudulent in all her business transactions.
Apart from Daramola, two others are to present evidence of their business fidelity.
Ahead of the Friday session, the anti-graft agency has relocated Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele, from Lagos to Abuja.
The EFCC discovered that the governor acquired the properties in Lagos and Abuja between October 16, 2014 when he was inaugurated to April 2015.
The four duplexes, which were bought at $1.3m each, are located on Tiamiyu Savage Street on Victoria Island in Lagos.
Each of the mansions is a four-bedroom duplex.
According to EFCC’s findings, while chalets 3 and 4 were purchased through Siqnathor, chalets 6 and 9 were owned by Noga Hotel
and the fifth duplex was bought from the Skye Bank Plc at N200 million.
Although the transactions were handled by Still Earth belonging to Oyin Daramola, the governor has refused to pay estate agency fees up till date.
Instead, he offered to pay fees through the award of contracts to the estate agent in Ekiti State to defray the commission on the five properties.
Agbele allegedly orchestrated the deals.
According to a source acquainted to the preliminary investigation, “They approached Oyin Daramola through Abiodun Agbele whom she knew in Ibadan.
“Upon seeing Agbele who came to seek assistance to buy the four duplexes in Lagos, it was obvious he was looking so poor and could not afford the huge cost.
“Agbele then said his friend, who wanted the duplexes, will call her. It was then that Fayose called Oyin Daramola. We have the call logs and the transcript of the conversation or negotiation already.
“Investigation confirmed that Fayose did not pay the agency fees but only offered to give contracts to Still Earth belonging to Daramola in Ekiti State to pay the required fees.
“Unknowingly, he wanted to award the contracts for kick-back to feather his nest.”
For questioning are Daramola of Still Earth, her former accountant and a consultant, simply called Titilayo of Philberth company.
“We are going to interact with these three people on Friday as part of the ongoing investigation of the governor. We had a preliminary interface with Daramola, who was innocently manipulated by Agbele and the governor for a legitimate business,” the EFCC source said.
Daramola reportedly told the EFCC team: “I did legitimate business, I am not fraudulent. I don’t do dirty business deals.
“You can check my background and business records, I have never been involved in shady transaction. I made sure every process is documented without cutting corners. I have no cause to live a dubious life," Daramola said.
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