A human rights group, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice
(CHRSJ) has given the reason why the Ooni-designate, Prince Enitan
Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his company, Metropole Interproject Limited
should be investigated and subsequently prosecuted accordingly by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged
N400million forgery which involved the immediate past Ooni of Ife,
Late Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse 11 business empire.
It was learnt that the petition dated Monday 2nd November, 2015
entitled: “Request for Prosecution of Prince Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi
and his Company named Metropole Interproject Limited for the Offence
of forgery, Fraudulent Conversion and Obtaining the sum of N400million
by false Pretence”, which was signed by the CHRSJ’s Chairman, Comrade
Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman and forwarded to the Chairman of the EFCC and
a copy was also given to the President Muhammadu Buhari.
The anti-graft body received the CHRSJ’s Petition letter on the
subject matter on Friday 6th of November, 2015 and copy of the
petition was also forwarded to the Transparency International (TI)
office and Embassy of the United Kingdom (UK), United State of America
(USA) and Republic of Canada for their notification of the
development.
It was also learnt yesterday that the petition forwarded to the
anti-graft body by the rights group, was supported with the series of
evidences, including the petition letter dated 7th September, 2015
which authored by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN),Mr. Rotimi Jacobs
of the Rotimi Jacobs & Co Chambers, leveled N400million allegation
against Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his company.
The group however threatened to institute a legal action against the
anti-graft Commission to compel it to perform its statutory duty if
the Commission failed, refused and neglected to prosecute Prince
Ogunwusi and his Company that used for the forgery offence which is
contrary to the Chapter 43 section 463-465 and chapter 44 section 467
sub-section 1A&B(L.N.112 of 1964,1976 N0.27) , chapter 46 section
484-489, chapter 47, 48&49 section 490-494 of the Criminal code act
CAP ‘C’:38 and EFCC act with cases and materials, Extras of ICPC
&Money Laundering act 2010,law of the federation, Criminal code law
with questions and answers for Police College, within seven days of
receiving the group’s petition letter.
According to the petition, “WE also refer the Chairman to EFCC’s
letter dated 17th September,2015 to Principal Partner,Olawoyin (Legal
Practitioners) and a letter dated 23rd September,2015 from Olawoyin
& Olawoyin(Legal Practitioners) to EFCC on the same subject matter.
“As an organization committed to promotion of good governance and
fighting corruption and various ills confronting our Nation. We are
disturbed that up till date and despite overwhelming prime facie
evidence against the above named person and his company, your
Commission has blatantly refused, failed and or neglected to
prosecute the above named person for such ignominious criminal
offences ”.
The petition further reads thus:”Our concern is that if the suspect
and his company are persons of lower pedigree or mere commoners, the
Commission (EFCC) would have taken steps and charge such hapless
individuals and companies to Court.Mr. Chairman, this is not supposed
to be the attitude of a Commission of this nature and this attitude
can never take our dear Country to its enviable position. We are in a
change period and the Commission must move with the change mantra. The
Commission must belong to nobody but belongs to every Nigerian. In
view of the foregoing, we hereby request your Commission to prosecute
immediately upon the receipt of this letter (Petition), the above
named Prince Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his company, Metropole
Interproject Limited for the Chambers of Rotimi Jacobs which has been
investigated by your Commission”.
Speaking further on the development, rights activist maintained that
there is need for inculcation of moral value to our society through
the palace in every community in the land and anybody that would
occupy the position of authority should come with integrity in order
to serve as a good example to younger generation, stating that “if you
are preaching equity, you must come with clean hand. Worshiping of
money and world materials increase the social vices in the country
today which makes the corruption to be on the increase geometrically”
“We don’t have any personal grudge against Ooni-designate, Prince
Enitan Ogunwusi because we believe that God makes a leader but we want
justice to be done on any issue of this nature as it has been part of
our stand. Anybody alleges of any wrong doing needs to clear his or
her name first before occupying any exalted position. It is because
Nigeria as a country has been eroded of moral values where brigandage
takes the order of the day”.