JUST IN: Ize-Iyamu opens up on EFCC’s N700m fraud allegation

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has said the N700m fraud allegation leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is meant to tarnish his image ahead of the poll.

Ize-Iaymu disclosed this during an interview monitored from BBC Pidgin English programme on Sunday. He accused the EFCC of blackmail and twisting the information alleging that he diverted N700 million campaign fund

Speaking further, the APC candidate noted that he was just one of those who signed for the money, adding that he never received the money and it was not paid into his account.

Ize-Iyamu revealed that the money was taken to the house of the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state where all the party’s local government chairmen in the state took turns to sign and collect the money meant for their various local governments.

He said: “When we got to the bank, the officials told us they cannot release the money and asked us to sign, which we did. We also agreed that the bank should carry the money which they took to the leader’s house. From there, all those concerned, including the local government chairmen, signed for the money to their various local governments.

“No single kobo was given to me but after the election, the EFCC said we were the ones who signed for the money; we must account for it. And I said no money came to my account; no money was given to me and that the money was carried to a leader’s house where those concerned came and signed for it.

“I even told them that those who signed and took the money have all agreed that they did so with the papers tendered, signifying that they signed for it. Not one of them came back to say they didn’t sign and that it was Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (that collected the money).”