EFCC Arrests Ekiti North Reps Member-Elect, Akinlayo Kolawole

Akinlayo Davidson Kolawole, the winner of the Federal House of Representatives election held on February 25, 2023 in Ekiti North Federal Constituency (II), has been apprehended and arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Kolawole, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was reportedly made hours after he received a Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, gave the certificates to the members-elect on Wednesday at the National Collation Center in Abuja.

In 2022, Akinlayo reportedly intimidated and detained a journalist for disclosing how he defrauded Mr. Akinnawonu of up to N3 billion over which he is now being detained.

Akinlayo and his attorney, Rotimi Olorunfemi, who was at the time the Chairman of Akure branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), were accused of defrauding Port Harcourt oil magnate Akinnawonu and JAAC Nig. Ltd. of N3 billion under the guise of assisting him in buying a property in the Gwarinpa neighborhood of Abuja but ultimately fell short.

Johnson’s attorney, Barr. Adejumola Ajayi, sent a petition to the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 15, 2022.

In part, the petition stated: “That sometime between 2013 and 2015, the team of Messrs. Akinlayo Davidson Kolawole and Rotimi Olorunfemi (a fictitious estate manager and his solicitor) with their office address at Akure made representations to our clients to find them some real estate property in Abuja and Lagos.

“Property tagged Tantaliser building at Aminu Kano Crescent, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent Wuse 11 Abuja.

“Property tagged multiple three (3) storey building of former Federal government guest houses covering about 10,000 Square metres of land at Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos.

“Property formerly occupied by NEPA at Kings Way Road Lagos on about 4000 square metres of land which sales obtained from our clients amounted to N1,860,000,000 (One billion, Eight Hundred and Sixty Million Naira).

“That within same period Akinlayo Davidson Kolawole obtained an additional sum of N46,000,000 (Forty-Six Million Naira) from our clients to convert their Opebi residential building to commercial building and as well collected rent of N10,400,000 (Ten Million and Four Hundred Thousand Naira) rent from our client’s tenants occupying their property at Plot 176 Herbert Macauley Road without performance and account.”

It was also gathered that Akinnawonu, who doubles as a director in JAAC Nig. Ltd. is now in critical health condition and has been flown to Canada following the shock and trauma he had suffered.

According to reports, Olorunfemi has since admitted to the crime, while the incoming member of the APC House of Representatives had promised to repay N830,000,000 (eight hundred and thirty million naira) to Akinnawonu before June 30, 2023, in a letter written through his lawyer.

Akinlayo had subsequently avoided arrest by the EFCC and the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, due to his refusal to uphold the agreement and make the required payments.