From Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti

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Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s counsel,  Chief Mike Ozekhome has resisted the transfer of a suit wherein the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze two accounts belonging to his client.
Before the case was adjourned to September 30, Ozekhome pleaded that he would not want the case transferred to a vacation judge.
“My lord, the vacation judge may find it difficult to understand the background of the issue. You are aware of everything and we are not in a hurry. We will wait till you come back,” he said.
Earlier, presiding judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo adjourned the case till September 30 on Ozekhome’s request in order to respond to issues raised by the EFCC in its reply to a motion on notice, dated June 23 in which the applicant sought an order to unfreeze Fayose’s accounts.
The EFCC’s counter position was supported with a  10-paragraph affidavit and a lone exhibit by EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo.
Oyedepo said the EFCC had, on June 29, got an order of the court directing the commission to appear and show cause why a mandatory order being craved by Fayose should not be granted to unfreeze the two accounts.
This was supported with 10-paragraph affidavit and nine exhibits marked EFCC 01 to 09.
He added that the plaintiff and the second respondent had been duly served.
The court had, on June 28, ordered the EFCC to appear before it and show cause why Fayose’s restricted accounts in Zenith Bank should not be lifted.
Fayose had, in an ex-parte motion deposed to by Bimpe Olatemiju, prayed the court to grant a mandatory order lifting the ban.
He described the EFCC’s action as an infraction and brazen infringement on absolute immunity conferred on Fayose by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Opening his defence at yesterday’s proceeding, Oyedepo said: “We received the order of the court on June 29, 2016 at our office in Lagos directing us to appear before your lordship for freezing of the accounts of the applicant in the custody of the second respondent.
“We have complied with your order as a law-abiding agency by filing all necessary papers and the plaintiff and the second respondent have been duly served…”