EFCC has the power to freeze Governor’s account – Law Prof. says

chika ebuzor

June 23, 2016 5:39 PM

Asogwa said the Nigerian constitution gives the EFCC the power to freeze the account of any sitting Governor, if he or she is involved in money laundering or any illegal financial practise.

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State

A Professor of Law,

This is coming on the heels of claims by Fayose that the blocking of his Zenith bank account by the anti-graft agency is illegal.

The Law faculty Dean also said the Nigerian constitution gives the EFCC the power to freeze the account of any sitting Governor, if he or she is involved in money laundering or any illegal financial practise.

Asogwa said “EFCC has the legal right to freeze the account of any sitting governor that his personal account was suspected to have been used for money laundering and illegal financial transaction without the constitutional provisions of the law.

“If EFCC has proof that such account was used for money laundrying, no matter the immunity clause, the law allows the commission to freeze such account.

“The constitutional immunity for the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors only protect them from prosecution in law court but not from been investigated.”

Adding that “The constitutional immunity only shields President and Vice together with the governors from prosecution while on seat but not from been investigated.

“Freezing of account is a prelude to investigation, if the constitution allows investigation of a sitting governor, there is nothing wrong freezing his account if there was enough evidence that his account is used for money laundering or other illegal financial acts. A sitting governor can be investigated but cannot be prosecuted until his tenure expires before he can be prosecuted.”

Meanwhile, two legal luminaries, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and Kayode Ajulohave disagreed with the Prof.

They said the freezing of Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose’s account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is illegal.

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chika ebuzor