Mike Ozekhome Laments - ''N75million Was Part Payment Legal Fee Paid By My Client Ayo Fayose''

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who is also a human rights lawyer, has sought to clarity issues surrounding the N75million frozen in his account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 

He said:

‘’The N75million frozen by the Anti-Graft commission was a part payment of legal fees by Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose.’’

He further clarified that he had rendered legal services on a personal capacity to the State Governor and the governor’s aid. 

“For the records, the N75 million was paid into my account by my client, Governor Fayose of Ekiti State as part payment of professional fees for the numerous cases my chambers is currently handling for him (in his personal capacity) and his aides across Nigeria. The money is neither ‘suspected proceeds of crime’ or of money laundering,” 

Ozekhome said he represented Fayose against EFCC before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Ekiti when on January 31st, the Judge ordered the case against the Governor be dismissed and all his assets unfrozen.

“The present action of EFCC is clearly calculated to overreach Governor Fayose. This will never happen. I will continue to defend beleaguered and oppressed Nigerians from the antics and highhandedness of publicly-funded government institutions that breach their fundamental rights.

“It is sickening and inconceivable that money legitimately and legally paid by a client to his solicitor from an unencumbered account wholly and totally defrozen and unblocked by the judgment of a competent court of law can be termed ‘suspected proceeds of crime or money laundering.

“I am practicing lawyer, not a government employee, contractor or a businessman. I have never laundered and will never launder any money in my life.

“It is so shameful and disgusting when we make ourselves a laughing stock before international circles through brazen unconstitutional acts by publicly-funded government institutions just to silence all critical voices of reason and plurality of ideas.

“I shall take immediate legal steps to defreeze the account in the event that the EFCC does not immediately voluntarily vacate the said order.”