At last, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last Osun State election, Senator Iyiola Omisore was yesterday morning picked up by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Omisore was still being held in one of the EFCC interrogation centres in Abuja as at the time of filing this report.

For over a month, Omisore and the EFCC have been trading accusations and counter- accusations over invitation to account for over N1.3 billion allegedly traced to him from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Col Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Omisore was declared wanted by EFCC after investigation of the fund used for the Ekiti State governorship poll exposed his involvement in the movement of money from the ONSA through him and former minister of state for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

According to records of the investigators, the sum of N1.3 billion was traced to companies where Omisore had substantial interests.

By declaring him wanted, Omisore went public lambasting the anti-graft agency. He said EFCC had become a tool the Buhari government was using to muzzle opposition.

In a statement, Omisore noted that the purported report declaring him wanted was an attempt by the EFCC and its leadership to tarnish his image.

“That statement, if indeed it was issued by the EFCC, is the height of mischief and a deliberate attempt to assassinate my character. It is now very clear that the EFCC is indeed playing out the script of persecuting and harassing perceived opposition groups in the country.

“To be sure, there is no basis for the EFCC so-called statement. Only on Tuesday, May 24, we appeared in court with the EFCC asking for the permission of the court for an extension of time in the preliminary objection to a suit filed against me,” he stated.

Defending himself in the statement, the former deputy governor of Osun State declared that the Managing Director of Firmex Gill which the EFCC joined in their case indemnified him from the company’s contracts and any such obligations.

“In other words, there is nothing relating to me in the company’s contract deal with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The company has even sued the ONSA for its inability to pay the balance of the contract so awarded to it.

“Therefore, I am not aware of any issue relating to a contract sum of N700 million. There was no issue of N700 million anywhere,” he said.

•Adapted from a Daily Sun report. Photo shows Senator Omisore.

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