Daniel: I will be vindicated

[Compass]

FORMER Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, yesterday went to the Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after he learnt that some operatives of the anti-graft agency were looking for him. Daniel, who was scheduled to travel abroad after the pan-Yoruba summit in Ikenne, Ogun State, convened by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, and Yeye Oodua Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo, had to cancel the foreign trip for him to answer the summons of the EFCC.

The former governor initially went to the Lagos office of the commission before proceeding to Abuja with some operatives.

He said yesterday that he would eventually be vindicated as the petitions written against him were politically motivated.

Also, at the EFCC Abuja office yesterday were former Oyo State governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, and his Nasarawa counterpart, Aliyu Akwe Doma.

A statement signed by Daniel's spokesman, Adegbenro Adebanjo, reads: "Today, agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) visited the Sagamu home of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State. When they got there, Otunba Daniel was at the pan-Yoruba summit in Ikenne. On learning of their presence in Sagamu, Otunba Daniel left Ikenne to join them after which he was taken away by the agents ostensibly to continue investigation into the petitions they had received against the former governor.

"It is important to state that prior to their visit, Otunba Daniel had not been invited to answer any question. Also, nothing incriminating has been found or brought to his notice by officials of the EFCC, prior to their visit to his house on Thursday.

Indeed, when speculations became rife that he may be invited for questioning, a scheduled trip abroad by the former governor was put on hold in order for him to be available to answer the summons of the EFCC.

"As a law abiding citizen, Otunba Daniel expects the agency to follow the due process in the  current situation.

"Otunba Daniel remains confident that he would be vindicated as the petitions written against him and which may have formed the basis of his invitation by the EFCC are politically motivated. We believe that at the end of the day, the truth will prevail".

Also, a  statement signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade, Alao-Akala's spokesman, reads: "To the best of our knowledge, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala was billed to attend the pan-Yoruba Conference at Ikenne to which he and other Yoruba leaders have been invited. As I communicate with you now, former Governor Alao-Akala is on his way to Abuja at the invitation of the EFCC. He was never arrested as he left to honour the invitation on his own as a law abiding citizen".

Compass