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Members of a group, Zero Corruption Coalition, South-West, on Tuesday trooped to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Lagos to protest “moribund” Sunburn Yacht Hotel.
The group called on the EFCC and the Lagos State Government to investigate those behind the purchase of the yacht which allegedly cost taxpayers and Diamond Bank Plc shareholders and depositors a whooping N8bn.
As at 9.30am, the protesters had already assembled at the EFCC office on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, but were initially prevented by some overzealous men of the State Security Service from submitting their petition.
They were later allowed to see an EFCC official who was allegedly directed by Abuja to give the protesters audience.
After submitting the petition, the protesters marched through Awolowo Road, singing solidarity songs and waving placards.
The placards bore inscriptions such as ‘Governor Babatunde Fashola must recover our money,’ ‘Sunburn burns the people’s money,’ ‘Who owns Loneseed Limited?’, ‘Security and Exchange Commission must investigate Diamond Bank,’ ‘Let EFCC do its work,’ among others.
Addressing journalists during the peaceful protest, Secretary, Zero Corruption Coalition, Mr. Mark Adebayo, called on the commission to thoroughly investigate the conspirators in the alleged corruption committed through the Yacht.
“All the people involved in the corruption should be brought to book. We cannot allow N8bn taxpayers’ money go down the drain and the perpetrators are walking freely in the society,” Adebayo said.
In the petition, a copy of which was made available to us, the group urged the EFCC to investigate Loneseed Limited, a company which allegedly secured N5bn loan from Diamond Bank to purchase the yacht.
The petition states, “We submit that the above actions contravened all extant laws of the Banking Act, the money laundering Act, the Companies and Allied Act, Anti-Corruption Act, all of which constitute EFCC crimes, including violation of Due Process and Procurement Act.
“Except otherwise discovered, we are yet to have evidence that any collateral was engaged in the fraudulent deal. We request EFCC to help find out what collateral was engaged before such a huge loan was advanced.”
Na fashola and Asiwaju tins. Thief no dey catch thief. It runs in d blood of politicians especially if u belong to Asiwaju Criminal Netwk. Everytin is perfect for them. Even in d face of massive corruption, pretence of a clean book is their hallmark. I pity dem. The hen will soon come to roost. ACN——– butcher d treasury!