SAN FRANCISCO, December 13, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered Zenith Bank and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to immediately unfreeze the accounts of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo said the EFCC did not follow the laid down regulations in ordering the bank to freeze the accounts adding that the action was illegal, wrongful, unlawful and unconstitutional.
“I hereby give a mandatory order directing the Respondents jointly or severally to immediately de-freeze, unblock and make operational both accounts belonging to the Applicant,” the judge ordered.
Justice Taiwo also ruled that the EFCC breached the governor’s fundamental rights to fair hearing as the commission did not make him a party to the proceedings for the interim freezing of the account.
He added that the EFCC suppressed facts by failing to disclose to the court that granted the interim freezing order that the two accounts in question belonged to a Governor who enjoys total constitutional immunity.
THEWILL recalls that Fayose’s accounts were frozen by the EFCC in June following allegations that he received money from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
Story by Oputah David
