Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday morning raided the home of the former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode in Epe area of Lagos.
A top aide of the former governor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that EFCC operatives raided Ambode’s home.
He revealed that Ambode was not in the country and the home had been raided in his absence.
The commission’s spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade, told The PUNCH that the operatives were in Ambode’s house as part of investigations.
He said the visit was not a raid but “We are there for ongoing investigation.”
Orilade in a statement, he later issued said, “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.”
The anti-graft agency had in a recent statement by Orilade announced the freezing of three banks accounts linked to Ambode which were allegedly used in the diversion of N9.9bn in September 2018.
PUNCH
