JUST IN: Unfreeze Fayose's Bank Account Court Orders Zenith Bank

A Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered Zenith Bank to unfreeze the accounts of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Justice Taiwo ruled that anti corruption agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, did not follow proper regulation in freezing the account

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There has been mixed reaction since the account was frozen by the EFCC. 

According to Mike Ozekhome, It is illegal and unconstitutional for the account of a sitting governor to be frozen while in office. The governor enjoys immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution and for whatever purpose, his account cannot be frozen. Section 308 of the Constitution grants immunity to the governor and his deputy just as it grants immunity to the President and his vice-president.

“You cannot freeze the account of a President while he is still in office just like you cannot freeze the account of a governor while he is still in office. You can wait till he leaves office. Since he enjoys immunity, the same thing applies to his finances and all his property. 

Meanwhile in the wake of the freeze Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay, SAN, said the commission had been empowered to freeze accounts or assets of anyone under investigation.

Sagay, who hinged his assertion on a Supreme Court verdict to buttress his point, said: “If the EFCC is investigating anybody and they have reasons to believe that somebody has acquired state assets for himself, they are empowered by the law to apply to a court to freeze those assets, including banking assets, pending the inquiry and possible trial. So, they have that power. 

Source
Per Second News