EFCC probes illegal land sales in FESTAC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun an investigation into the illegal sale of Federal Government lands by some land-grabbers in FESTAC Phase Il, Lagos after a tour of the areas.

The commission mounted a caveat signpost indicating the area where it said the status quo should be maintained. Other signpost reads: “EFCC, Land Under Investigations, Keep Off.”

According to the EFCC, the aim is to sensitise the public on the nefarious activities of grabbers on government lands in the area.

EFCC spokesman, Mr. Tony Orilade, said: “We are investigating the matter and at the appropriate time, we shall make our findings known to the public.”

Meanwhile, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), has said the EFCC has no case against him, urging the anti-graft agency to withdraw its case against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja because of the “damning revelations” coming from the ongoing trial of Shell and ENI in Italy.

Adoke said: “The in-coming Attorney-General of the Federation needs to put an end to this joke of a trial by the EFCC and lay the matter to rest as there is clearly no evidence to convict me of wrongdoing.

“The ongoing trial of Shell and ENI officials in Italy has exposed the lies that EFCC has been cooking up against me. Mr. Ednan Tofik ogly Agaev, a former Russian ambassador, said in court that he mentioned my name as one of those who benefited from the OPL 245 deal because of pressure from the FBI. He said the FBI interview couldn’t be used against him in court. That is an eye-opener for those who are interested in justice.”

EFCC spokesman had in a statement said Adoke abused his office in granting OPL 245 to Shell and ENI in 2011 but the former minister has described the claim as “ridiculous, ill-informed and full of ignorance, which Nigerians should treat with disdain.”