EFCC Declares Omisore Wanted over N700m Payment from ONSA

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, wanted over alleged misappropriation of funds.

This was disclosed yesterday in a statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who said Omisore is wanted in connection with a case of receiving and misappropriating the sum of over N700 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), between June and November, 2014.

Uwujaren stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain had been elusive and refused to report to the commission after invitation was extended to him on April 7, 2016, requesting him to come and make clarification on the ongoing investigation.

Instead of responding to the commission investigation, he said Omosore had approached the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
“Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf consequently ordered that Omisore should only be arrested through a due and legal process,” he said.

According to him, the EFCC had thereafter obtained a warrant to effect the arrest of the politician.
But Omisore, while reacting to the decision to declare him wanted last night, said it was not only the height of mischief but a deliberate attempt by the anti-graft agency and its leadership to tarnish his image and assassinate his character.

In statement made available, he said it was now  clear that the EFCC was indeed playing out the script of persecuting and harassing perceived opposition groups in the country.

The statement read: “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.
“The Managing Director of Firmex Gill which the EFCC joined in their case indemnified me 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 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.

“The relationship between the company and ONSA is civil and contractual, which has nothing to do with me. Besides, so long as their business transactions are legitimate and since I am not directly managing the company, how am I to know who and who they do business with?
“The EFCC should not be seen playing the role of political victimisation of innocent individuals, coercion and blackmail.

“How can you declare someone you were in court with at 9a.m today wanted the same day, a few hours afterwards? I am appealing to all human rights and civil society organisations to caution EFCC from damaging my reputation further. I
“If they have facts, I challenge them to bring them to court and not resort to blackmail, intimidation and victimisation.”