Zenith Bank officials have begged me- Fayose
Fri Jun 24, 2016 07:54:am Politics
2.8K By Buchi Obichie
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, speaking on Thursday evening, claimed that a top management team of Zenith Bank Plc begged him over the bank's alleged role in funding Mr. Fayose's election.
In his bid to deny an allegation by the Federal Government linking him to a $2.1 billion arms money reportedly diverted by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Governor said Zenith Bank helped in funding his election in 2014.
But Fayose has accused the bank of lying to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission- which is now investigating his involvement in the arms fund scandal- about the transaction; and his public comments on the matter are seen as an attempt to get even with the bank's leaders.
Zenith bank has distanced itself from the Governor's election.
But, in a statement on Thursday, by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, Mr. Fayose said the bank's top management met with him and begged him to let the matter be.
The statement was accompanied with photographs showing the governor and some officials he said were from the bank.
According to the statement, "Their visit to the Governor followed a reported denial by the bank that it was not part of the funding of the election.
"The team was led by an Executive Director, Sola Oladipo.
"It also had two zonal directors of the bank and the Ado-Ekiti branch manager.
"When accosted by newsmen, the ED said they only came to see the Governor.
"Asked whether the bank really dissociated itself from the claim by the Governor that it was part of the funding of the election, Shola could only mutter some inaudible words.
"He eventually said the spokesman for the bank was not on the team and could not say anything."
While commenting on the development, Governor Fayose said the bank officials came to beg him over the issue.
"They were begging me and that the matter should not go beyond this level. I asked them why did they go to the EFCC to tell lies. Why did they have to lie that the money came from the Office of the National Security Adviser? If the money is for me why did they have to link with me what is not?" the statement said.
In his bid to deny an allegation by the Federal Government linking him to a $2.1 billion arms money reportedly diverted by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Governor said Zenith Bank helped in funding his election in 2014.
But Fayose has accused the bank of lying to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission- which is now investigating his involvement in the arms fund scandal- about the transaction; and his public comments on the matter are seen as an attempt to get even with the bank's leaders.
Zenith bank has distanced itself from the Governor's election.
But, in a statement on Thursday, by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, Mr. Fayose said the bank's top management met with him and begged him to let the matter be.
The statement was accompanied with photographs showing the governor and some officials he said were from the bank.
According to the statement, "Their visit to the Governor followed a reported denial by the bank that it was not part of the funding of the election.
"The team was led by an Executive Director, Sola Oladipo.
"It also had two zonal directors of the bank and the Ado-Ekiti branch manager.
"When accosted by newsmen, the ED said they only came to see the Governor.
"Asked whether the bank really dissociated itself from the claim by the Governor that it was part of the funding of the election, Shola could only mutter some inaudible words.
"He eventually said the spokesman for the bank was not on the team and could not say anything."
While commenting on the development, Governor Fayose said the bank officials came to beg him over the issue.
"They were begging me and that the matter should not go beyond this level. I asked them why did they go to the EFCC to tell lies. Why did they have to lie that the money came from the Office of the National Security Adviser? If the money is for me why did they have to link with me what is not?" the statement said.
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