JUST IN: EFCC Raids Ambode’s Residence

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have raided the residence of former governor of Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

Ambode’s residence in his hometown of Epe, Lagos, was raided on Tuesday morning.

The operatives also searched Ambode’s former chief of staff’s residence located in the same Epe neighbourhood.

EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, confirmed that operatives were in Ambode’s house as part of investigations, but said it was not a raid.

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, had recently ordered the freezing of the sum of N9.9 billion linked to Ambode following an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC.

Ambode, however, denied having any account with such amount.

The former governor, in a statement by his media aide, Habib Aruna, said the accounts in question that were frozen by the court belong to the Lagos State Government and not him or any individual.

The statement said: “Those accounts were opened in the course of normal operations by the Lagos State Government for its administrative purposes and not for the former Governor’s personal transactions as was being wrongly insinuated and have been operated to ensure smooth operations of government activities by previous and present administrations. The former Governor was not and will never be involved in any unauthorized use of government property and resources.

“We strongly believe that after four demanding years as Chief Executive of Lagos State, Mr. Ambode is entitled to some deserved rest with his family and loved ones without the unwarranted attacks on his well-earned reputation.”

Ambode handed over as governor on May 29, 2019, after he was denied a second term by the All Progressives Congress (APC) following a falling-out with former Governor Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu’s loyalists in the APC are reportedly behind his travails, which many believe is responsible for President Muhammadu Buhari not offering him a ministerial position.