The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has advised the embattled lawmaker-elect, Barrister AbdulGafar Ayinla Ayilara to clear himself with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over fraud allegation against him.
The party further issued a strong warning to its members to shun all forms of corruption in the incoming government adding that the party will not shield anybody that has been found to be corrupt.
Ayilara was last week paraded by the EFCC for allegedly defrauding an American-based Nigerian woman to the tune of N26m for a landed property.
Speaking on the issue last night, in a telephone interview, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Aro said the APC will operate zero- tolerance to corruption and will not carry the sins of any member involved in any graft.
According to him, the party will wait for Ayilara’s case to be determined before making any comment.
“Since he has a case with the EFCC, let us give him that opportunity to go and answer them and after that, we can state our position.
“But all I need to say now is that the incoming administration will have zero-tolerance for corruption and whoever or any party member involved in corruption activities will be made to face the law, simple.
“The party cannot be made to and will not carry the sin(s) of any member that contravened the law and if found guilty, that is his own cup of tea. What is happening now is only allegation and until he is found guilty, then we can comment”, he added.
Last week, EFCC’s Kwara Zonal office arrested Ayilara over alleged involvement in property scam, forgery and obtaining money under false pretenses to the tune of N26 million adding that the arrest was based on a petition by a Nigerian resident in the United States.
EFCC’s spokesman, Tony Orilade made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, Ayinla who is expected to be sworn-in on May 29, confessed to the commission of the crime, disclosing that he used the money to finance his political campaigns.
“The petitioner, who resides in the United States, stated that Ayinla who is a legal practitioner was introduced to her by her late aunt as capable of helping her purchase some property in Ilorin, the Kwara capital.
“She said that the lawmaker-elect sold two plots of land to her with four bedroom bungalows at window level at Agric area of Ilorin.
“She paid N8, 240, 000 million commission of which Ayinla informed her that the seller has received the money. But he never paid the money to the seller up till today, and never refunded the money to her.
“The suspect disclosed that he diverted the money to his personal use and promised to pay back when he received his wardrobe allowance from the Kwara House of Assembly. He will soon be charged to court,” he said.
Reacting to the issue through a statement issued on Friday by his campaign organisation, Ayilara said he didn’t dupe or scam anybody.
”Though Hon. Abdulgafar Ayilara was invited for questioning by the EFCC office in Ilorin on issue relating to a transaction with one of his clients as lawyer and real estate consultant, he was not detained.
“Truly Barrister AbdulGafar Ayinla Ayilara is having an issue with one of his clients and the issue was just a misunderstanding between them but we want to make it clear to the whole world that he never scammed or duped anyone.
“We have been seeing different news platform publishing the news, some are even saying he was arrested and detained. But the truth of the matter is that he is at home with friends and family who trooped to his residence to confirm the story. He was only invited and as a law abiding citizen, he honoured the invitation”.
“Hon Ayilara has explained what transpired between him and the client to officials handling the matter…
The organisation however promised to release details of the transaction in question to the general public for clarification, verification and to clear Ayilara of any wrongdoing while the EFCC continues their investigations.
Source: The National Pilot