Dayo Johnson
21 March 2012, Sweetcrude, AKURE – OFFICIALS of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday, arrested the Chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Chief Debo Ajimuda, for alleged corrupt practices.
Thirteen exotic cars and files in three Ghana-Must-Go bags were taken away by the officials at his residence located at Ijapo GRA in Akure metropolis. The officials were almost mobbed by workers of the commission at the office of the chairman.
It took the timely intervention of an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations in the state, Garba Mohammmed before the EFCC were let go by workers of the commission who wanted to mob four of the anti-graft agency staff.
The EFCC officials according to investigation stormed Ajimuda’s residence following a petition reportedly written against him by a leader in Ilaje council area of the state.
He was said to have been invited but repeatedly shunned the invitations hence the action of the officials yesterday.
Investigation by Vanguard revealed that the operatives have been on his trail in the last two weeks before he was finally arrested at his residence.
The operatives arrived his residence about 6am and immediately he got wind of their arrival reportedly jumped the fence of his house and hid in an uncompleted building next to his house for hours.
On arrival officials of the commission met the wife who told them that the husband was not around but his mobile phone and reading glasses were seen on his reading table.
Instead of leaving the premises, officials of EFCC were stationed there to ensure that he did not flee. He later gave up when it was glaring that the game was over.
Some of the cars driven to the state police Headquarters by officials of the anti graft commission include FY 195 ABC(Toyota Tundra), DK 777 FST(a Mercedes Benz Formatic R 500 Jeep), AJ 805 ABC (Toyota brand), ODGH 297 Toyota Venza and a two-door Toyota Solara car with number plate EU 777 ABJ.
But reacting to the incident, Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said the investigation of the anti graft commission was a welcome development.
Akinmade however expressed reservation about the method adopted by the commission, saying that Ajimuda was not invited before the officials of the EFCC swooped on him.
According to him the OSOPADEC boss was at no time invited, adding that the invasion of his house should have come after he was invited and failed to honour the invitation.
Akinmade however said the investigation into the activities of the commission was never an indictment of the agency as government had nothing to hide in the operations of the commission.
