To Benedict Ola Idega and Abdulsalami Leader, who claimed to be President Muhammadu Buhari’s private security aides, exploiting Governor Ayo Fayose’s fear and anxiety over the outcome of the military probe into the alleged partisanship of its members in the 2014 Ekiti governorship election, as an avenue to make some money, was a done deal, but they got more than what they bargained for. The Governor out-smarted them, by personally handling them over to law enforcement agents in the state. Governor Fayose, who had just returned from a week and half holiday in Dubai and had retired into the peace and serenity of his country home, Afao-Ekiti, was holding court with his political associates and members of the state executive council in the community, which is about 15 minutes drive from the state capital, when his attention was called to the presence of two strangers, who had come all the way from Abuja to see him with a strange and interesting proposal.

The two men claimed to be President Buhari’s private security aides and staff of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), with influence over the report of the military panel set up to probe the alleged partisanship of some military officers in the 2014/   governorship election in Ekiti and Osun. The two men, claimed that  they already have the preliminary report of the military panel and  that with the cooperation of the governor, they could manipulate the  final report, if necessary.

They also said the army panel report was targeted at some top army officers that the Federal Government wanted to punish. Uncomfortable with the men’s claim and very suspicious of their real intention, Governor Fayose informed the State Commissioner of Police and Director of the State  Service, and the former swung into action by stationing men of  the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on standby.

The two men, presented to Fayose, a purported  photocopy of page three of the preliminary report to show that they meant business. The paper bore the logo of  the Nigerian Army. The governor led them on, with the impression that he was satisfied with all that they said and asked them to wait at his waiting room for him to show appreciation. He then called in the Commissioner of Police and  DSS Director, who in turn asked their men to move in and arrest the  two men.

The identity card found on Abdulsalami Leader H bore “GMB SECURITY” and it was stated at the back that he (Abdulsalami) is the security of  Gen. Muhammadu Buhari with Number  34, Lobitto Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja as issuer’s address and  088133636478  and  08057010255  as telephone numbers. Benedict Ola Idega was with identity card bearing Federal Capital Development Authority.

Some of the Governor’s aides who confided in South West Voice confirmed that the arrested fraudsters were actually agents of the Federal Government, sent to the state to feel the pause of the governor, in case of any eventuality.

When the suspected fraudsters, who are currently facing charges at the magistrate court in the state, were being paraded by State Police Command two weeks ago, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Etop James told Journalists that  the document with the letterhead ‘Nigerian Army Force’ and a 57-page document ‘supposedly’ from the office of Special Adviser, Ethics and Values,   were obtained under false pretext with intention to obtain money from   Fayose.

“They confessed that they intended to defraud the governor. They confessed that  they were formally employed as private security guards by one Abdullahi Maikano and were attached with the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign team during the political rally. “The investigations about their activities are still ongoing while being tried in court to be able to get more evidence “, the CP pointed out.

While being interviewed by the Journalists, Benedict denied ever attempting   to dupe Fayose, saying he was only in Ekiti with a mission to see the governor, which he said was successful. “We only used those documents to beat security so that we can get access to the governor.   We didn’t have a sinister mission, nothing to achieve. We didn’t demand for money from the governor. Our mission was just to see him”.

When asked why the governor got them arrested, if truly they were out to render him a helping hand on how he could escape impeachment as being rumoured,   Benedict   said: “We had discussion with him and when he suspected that those documents were forged, he decided to call the police “. At the Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court last week, the police preferred two-count charge against the accused   persons, which are conspiracy and   forgery. The presiding   Magistrate,  Idowu Ayenimo,   ordered that the accused persons   be remanded in prison custody pending the next adjournment date.

Source: Vanguard