The former Lagos State Governor , Akinwunmi Ambode’s travails are yet to be over. This morning operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC raided his residence in Epe.
About two weeks ago, the anti-graft agency secured a court order freezing N9.9bn in an account traced to the former governor. EFCC flagged the account over suspicion of fraud.
Meanwhile, the embattled ex-governor through his media aide, Habib Haruna denied any involvement in the alleged fraud. He claimed he served the state with uttermost integrity.
Ambode has been in the eye of the storm when he was preparing for a second term. His party , the All Progressives Congress, APC unprecedentedly refused to give him automatic return ticket.
The former governor insisted on contesting primary election with the anointed candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu whom he had disparaged at a press conference.
He was defeated at the primaries amidst controversies of rigging and other irregularities. Ambode ate the humble pie and conceded defeat to Sanwo-Olu and urged Lagoisans to vote for him.
However many took his words with pinch of salt as his actions allegedly negated the public proclamation. It was alleged that he with-held all supports including funding of Sanwo-olu’s election.
He was also accused of hobnobbing with the main opposition candidate, Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.The ruling party accused him of oiling the campaign machinery of the PDP.
The suspicion further gained credence following the defection of his Energy Commissioner, Olawale Oluwo to the opposition PDP. Oluwo hails from Epe, the same local government Ambode claims.
Complete News observes that whilst the tension brewed, Ambode joined the campaign trail of President Muhammadu Buhari with the hope of getting rehabilitated politically in Abuja after the Lagos stalemate.
After Sanwo-Olu’s victory, Ambode survived impeachment threat from the APC-controlled state House of Assembly. The former governor’s men rose to the challenge and mobilized protesters to storm the Assembly complex.
All hope dashed when the name of Akinwunmi Ambode was missing from the expected ministerial list of President Muhammadu Buhari, close associates of the governor confided in Complete News that was the worst moment for the ex-governor.
Ambode had banked on the heavy warchest he deployed for President Muhammadu Buhari re-election and close associates (cabals) of the president he had ‘taken care of’ to earn a seat in the Next Level cabinet.
Surpi
