Zenith Bank Officials Came To Beg Me- Gov.Fayose

Ayodele Fayose-Zenith Bank officials

A top management team of Zenith Bank led by an Executive Director, has visited Ekiti State to plead with Governor Ayodele Fayose over the bank’s alleged role in funding the latter’s election.

Mr. Fayose had while denying an allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday that N4.745billion arms fund was used to finance his governorship election in 2014, claimed that majority of his funding came from Zenith Bank.

He also threatened to expose officials of the bank who provided the funding for his election if they do not clear his name, accusing the EFCC of intimidating the bank into denying its financial contribution to his election.

In an unofficial reaction to the claim, the bank reportedly denied funding the governor’s election.

But, in a statement on Thursday, by his special assistant on communication and new media, Lere Olayinka, the governor insisted that the bank’s top management met with him and begged him to let the matter be.
Ayo Fayose-Zenith Bank officials

The statement was accompanied with photographs showing the governor and some officials he said were from the bank.

SEE ALSO: Zenith Bank Denies Funding Fayose

“Their visit to the governor followed a reported denial by the bank that it was not part of the funding of the election”, the statement said.

“The team was led by an Executive Director, Sola Oladipo.

“It also had two zonal directors of the bank and the Ado-Ekiti branch manager.

“When accosted by newsmen, the ED said they only came to see the governor.

“Asked whether the bank really dissociated itself from the claim by the governor that it was part of the funding of the election, Shola could only mutter some inaudible words.

“He eventually said the spokesman for the bank was not on the team and could not say anything.

“While commenting on the development, Governor Fayose said the bank officials came to beg him over the issue”.
Officials

Olayinka quoted Gov. Fayose as saying: “They (bank officials) were begging me and that the matter should not go beyond this level. I asked them why did they go to the EFCC to tell lies? Why did they have to lie that money came from the Office of the National Security Adviser? If the money is for me why did they have to link with me what is not”.