The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reportedly initiated investigations into an alleged N400 million forgery case involving the new Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and his company, Metropole Interproject Limited.
Human Rights Activist and Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, CHRSJ, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, whose petition opened way for the investigation into the new Ooni disclosed that he has been served an invitation by the EFCC to appear before the agency in order to shed more light on the petition.
The petition by the CHRSJ Chairman dated November 2, 2015, titled “Request for Prosecution of Prince Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his Company named Metropole Interproject Limited for the Offence of forgery, Fraudulent Conversion and Obtaining the sum of N400 million by false Pretence” was forwarded to and received on 6th of November, 2015 by Chairman of the anti-graft agency.
Copies of the petition which was backed with series of evidence including a petition letter issued on 7th of September, 2015 by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN was also made and forwarded to the President, Muhammadu Buhari, Transparency International (TI), Embassy of the United Kingdom (UK), as well as those of the United States of America (USA) and Republic of Canada.
Speaking on his invitation to appear before the Anti-graft Commission’s Economic and Governance Crime department, EGC 1, this week, Comrade Sulaiman said; “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited us and we are going to appear before it this week to substantiate our position on the subject matter.
“Our belief is that to every logical mind, the gold is gold, regardless of whether a Prince or beggar, is holding it in his hand. There is need for inculcation of moral value to our society through the palace in every community in the land and anybody that would occupy the position of authority should come with integrity in order to serve as a good example to younger generation.
“It is also our belief that if you are preaching equity, you must come with clean hand. Worshiping of money and world materials increases the social vices in the country today which makes the corruption to be on the increase geometrically. We don’t have any personal grudge against Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi because we believe that God makes a leader but we want justice to be done on any issue of this nature as it has been part of our stand. Anybody alleges of any wrong doing needs to clear his or her name first before occupying any exalted position. It is because Nigeria as a country has been eroded of moral values where brigandage takes the order of the day.”
He further added that the EFCC should invite the author of the first petition, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs of Rotimi Jacobs and Co. Chambers as well as Professor Gabriel Olawoyin, the head of Olawoyin and Olawoyin Chambers to throw more light on the matter.