Controversial pastor of the Lagos based Christ Embassy Church, Chris Oyakhilome who is presently being investigated for money laundering and illegal cash transfer of a whooping $35 million appears desperate to scuttle his probe as a fresh information from security agencies in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja shows that a press statement issued today attacking Justice Minister, Bello Adoke and credited to the EFCC actually emanated from Oyakhilome owned National Daily newspapers.

iReports-ng gathered that following a hint that the EFCC was closing in on the fake miracle pastor, his newspaper based in Emina Crescent, Ikeja area of Lagos was said to have devoted its last week edition to attack the EFCC chairman, Farida Waziri, creating the impression that the publication was sponsored by the Justice Minister, Adoke. The allegations in the newspaper edition were said to have infuriated Waziri who instructed her lawyer to slam a libel suit against the newspaper and Oyakhilome’s front who parades himself as the publisher of the paper, Sylvester Ebhodaghe.

Still desperate to scuttle his investigation, Oyakhilome was said to have through Sylvester, cloned the email address of the EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, crafted an offensive press statement against Adoke with a hint that Waziri may resign her job soon. The rogue team was said to have impersonated Babafemi and sent out the statement to media organisations worldwide.

Their trick was however exposed when Babafemi in a swift reaction issued a statement to disown the one earlier credited to him and already traced to National Daily newspapers. A quick investigation by security agencies was said to have revealed that the offensive press release emanated from Oyakhilome’s hatchet men.

Security sources in Abuja hinted that both Oyakhilome and his errand boys may be guests of security agents in Abuja this week over the impersonation scam while the pastor may have to contend with weighty questions on his money laundering activities also this week.

The statement later issued today by the EFCC is reproduced below:

EFCC RAISES ALARM OVER FRESH BLACKMAIL PLOT

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has described as cheap blackmail and an act of desperation by disgruntled elements
a widely circulated statement credited to the anti-graft agency in which spurious and ridiculous allegations were made against the Attorney General of the Federation , Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN as well as the EFCC Chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri.

A statement by the Commission on Tuesday November 16, 2010 accused those behind the fake statement of cloning the e-mail address of the Commission’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi and using same to send their own statement to media organisations including on-line publications some of which had already published the so-called statement which was written in bad language and taste.

The Commission wishes to disown the statement in its entirety and urge all those that may have received it as well as the general public to disregard it as it is not in any way related to the reality of things on ground in the EFCC.

“The statement is just one of the numerous antics of crooks to set the office of the AGF against the EFCC in their desperate bid to cause confusion and disaffection between the two personalities heading the two public offices. They have tried this before now by sponsoring various publications attacking either the AGF or the EFCC chairman as a ploy to create the impression that such publications were sponsored by either of the two officials against the other.

“We wish to assure the masterminds of this criminal act that this is yet another of their failed plots to want to escape justice using all manner of crooked means. If they have failed to deter us from continuing their investigation and prosecution by killing and maiming our officials, sending of bomb threats and others, then their latest antic of trying to set the AGF against the EFCC will equally fail.

“We wish to emphasize that the EFCC chairman is not contemplating resigning her appointment on a non-existent ground that the AGF is interferring with the work of the Commission. The support of the AGF for the anti-graft agency has in no small measure helped to facilitate the recent successes recorded in the war against corruption especially some high profile convictions recorded by the EFCC.

“We also wish to assure the criminal minds behind the latest plot that we will continue to work with other security agencies to trail and track them no matter who they are”, the statement stated.

http://ireports-ng.com/2010/11/16/35million-fraud-oyakhilome-fights-back-fingered-in-fresh-scam/

Still desperate to scuttle his investigation, Oyakhilome was said to have through Sylvester, cloned the email address of the EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, crafted an offensive press statement against Adoke with a hint that Waziri may resign her job soon. The rogue team was said to have impersonated Babafemi and sent out the statement to media organisations worldwide.

iReports-ng gathered that following a hint that the EFCC was closing in on the fake miracle pastor