The United Action for Democracy (UAD) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to embark on immediate investigation of a serving Member of the House of Representatives, Olatunji Abayomi’s Akanni Akinosi, over alleged money laundering, unexplained wealth, and abuse of public office.

In the petition, signed by its Secretary, Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, the Pro-Democracy and Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisation, said the allegations against the lawmaker representing Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, Ogun State, are supported by documentary of financial intelligence and transaction records indicating unusually large and complex financial flows across multiple bank accounts linked to the lawmaker and associated corporate entities.

“This petition is brought pursuant to the following Nigerian laws: Section 6 of the EFCC Act, which empowers the Commission to investigate financial crimes including money laundering, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office; Sections 18 and 19 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which criminalise the concealment, transfer, or acquisition of proceeds of unlawful activity; and Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which prohibit gratification, abuse of office, and corrupt enrichment by public officials.

“Paragraphs 6 and 11 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) and the provisions of the requiring public officers to declare assets and prohibiting unexplained wealth or conflicts of interest; Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, which empowers authorities to investigate suspicious financial transfers connected to fraud or illicit enrichment,” the petition read in part.

The group claimed that Akinosi currently occupies a sensitive public office as a Member of the House of Representatives, a position that carries fiduciary and ethical obligations under Nigerian law, noting that the magnitude and complexity of the financial flows identified raise serious questions regarding compliance with asset declaration requirements and the legality of the sources of these funds.

“Where a public official is unable to reasonably explain wealth disproportionate to lawful income, such wealth may constitute the unexplained assets subject to investigation and forfeiture under Nigerian anti-corruption laws.

“In the interest of transparency and the rule of law, the United Action for Democracy respectfully requests that the EFCC to immediately commence a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of Akinosi; obtain certified bank records from all financial institutions linked to the subject; trace the origin and destination of all suspicious financial inflows; investigate the beneficial ownership and financial activities of Abolak Integrated Enterprises, Abolas Engineering Services Ltd, and Zashow Motor Company.

“Invite and interrogate the subject and all major depositors connected with the suspicious transactions; freeze any accounts or assets reasonably suspected to contain proceeds of unlawful activity pending investigation; conduct full asset tracking and lifestyle audit to determine whether the subject possesses unexplained wealth; refer any breaches relating to asset declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau for further action; prosecute the subject in a court of competent jurisdiction if sufficient evidence establishes offences including money laundering, illicit enrichment, abuse of office, corrupt gratification and financial concealment. Recover and forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria any assets proven to be proceeds of corruption.” (The Guardian)

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