Former Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has reacted to the teaching of his home by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday.
The EFCC was at his Epe home, for an exercise that the commission’s spokesperson, tony Orilade, described as being part of the investigation into Lagos State money said to have been kept in suspicious accounts towards the end of Ambode’s tenure.
Ambode, in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed the search but insisted that the EFCC had not held any discussion with him on the matter.
In the statement signed by his media officer, Habib Haruna, Ambode urged his supporters and the general public to remain calm and law-abiding as there was no cause for alarm.
He said the commission’s visit to his Epe Country home and Parkview Ikoyi residence, where the anti-graft agency conducted the exercise, was without any incident.
“He said the Commission, till date, had not opened any direct communication with him on any issue, adding that he was ready and willing to respond if or when they do so,” Haruna said.
The statement reads: “This morning, operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission visited the Epe Country home and Parkview Ikoyi residence of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, former Governor of Lagos State, with warrants to conduct a search. These searches were carried out extensively and at the end of the exercise the operatives left without any incident.
“The former Governor reiterates that the EFCC has till date not had any direct communication with him on any subject matter whatsoever and if or when it occurs he is ready and willing to respond.
“The former governor wishes to assure his supporters and the generality of Lagosians to continue to remain calm and law-abiding as there is no cause for alarm.”
The former governor reiterated his belief in the rule of law and due process and remains grateful for the opportunity to have served Lagos State diligently and conscientiously.
It would be recalled that Ambode, in an earlier response to allegations by the EFCC that it had frozen certain accounts linked to him, insisted that no account of his contained N9.9bn let alone being frozen by the Commission as those accounts were opened and operated by the Lagos State Government.
