A civil rights group, the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS), stormed the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with the team of its legal practitioners from Lagos and Osun states penultimate Thursday to endorse its Petition Letter on the allegation of acquisition of N2.2 billion properties with public funds leveled against the former State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ajibola Bashiru.

The group had earlier submitted additional evidences to the anti-graft agency on the subject matter in order to prove its allegations leveled against Bashiru beyond reasonable doubt during EFCC’s investigation, just as the anti-graft body had concluded arrangement to invite Mr. Bashiru for questioning over the allegation contained therein in the group’s Petition Letter for subsequent prosecution.

Similarly, the leadership of the civil society organisation had also entered an agreement with the authority of the anti-graft agency to take its officials to the locations of all the alleged acquired properties with public funds in Osun and Lagos states.

The group further alleged that Mr. Bashiru had been working round the clock by employing the services of the men of the Department of the State Security (DSS) through its Osun State Director and his men to frustrate the ongoing investigation of EFCC.

The group further alleged that the intention of the men of the DSS was to arrest its Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, which necessitated their filling of an application against the DSS in the State High Court to restrain it from interfering in the investigation of EFCC.

Speaking with journalists after the endorsement of its Petition Letter, the CSCEOS’ Chairman, Comrade Sulaiman, maintained that the civil rights group would continue to expose any elements of corruption and its perpetrators in the society as part of efforts to stamp out the menace of corruption in the land. The civil society group insisted that if it remains silent, it would be guilty of complicity, and therefore advised Bashiru to allow EFCC to continue with its constitutional responsibility of investigating all the financial allegations leveled against him (Bashiru), instead of employing the service of security agents to obstruct the EFCC’s investigation.

The rights group stated that no amount of intimidation from Bashiru and his co-travelers would deter its members from exposing the corrupt elements of the society, urging the EFCC to raise its head tall in carrying out their constitutional duty by conducting its investigation without fear or favour and as well ensuring justice for the parties.

CSCEOS said it submitted more evidence against Mr Bashiru dated December 28, 2018 titled: “Report of Additional More Evidences in Respect of Petition Against Mr. Ajibola Bashiru over N2.2 billion Properties”, as a way to prove our Petition beyond reasonable doubt before the anti-graft agency and copies made available to the media.

The Letter read in part: “It is duty bound on us as an organisation that is craving for egalitarian and corrupt free society to report any corrupt practices to your agency (EFCC) that saddle with the responsibility of investigating financial crimes with subsequent prosecution of any suspect in respect of financial allegations.

“Through our internal investigative mechanism, we have discovered another three more gigantic edifices acquired with public funds by Mr. Bashiru and the buildings were located at Oroki extension beside Rave FM Radio Station Air Wave Antenna, Olawuni Kehinde Close, Osogbo, office Complex at Old Governor’s office-along Gbongan-Ibadan road, Osogbo and residential building at Omole Estate, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos State, with White Colour Armour Tank Jeep Wagon.

“We also discovered another residential building belonging to Mr. Ajibola Bashiru but claimed to belonging to one of his aides, Teslim Latona (Olaiya).”

It therefore sees the action of Bashiru in collaboration with the DSS as a ploy to create a machine of despotism in the war against corruption, stating that anybody that is encouraging and promoting corruption in any form deserves no honour.

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