The Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva has denied the allegation by the? Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he owned? two buildings worth over one billion naira in the city of Abuja.
In a statement signed and made available to LEADERSHIP by his Media Advicer, Doifie Ola,
Sylva? said? he knows nothing about them and this is the first time? he is reading about ownership of the said buildings.
While calling for justice on the part of the EFCC, he said, “Since the EFCC is already in court with him over charges of fraud and money laundering, subjecting him to a media trial is improper. It does not serve the ends of justice. It is an exercise in political persecution.”
Recalling a related allegation by EFCC in the past, Sylva said that it was not the first time he was being tried in the media.
“In March, 2010, newspapers relying on a so-called EFCC interim report, had linked him to a fraud of over N100 billion in Bayelsa State. The story then was that, in 2009, he transferred over 40 million US dollars to an offshore account.
Till date, no one has come forward to provide the account details of the foreign account,” the statement said.
He said that under Nigeria Law, he was assumed innocent of all the charges against him until he was proved otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction.