Ayidedatiwa Counterpart Akinteriwa Finds Himself In EFCC Custody After Primary Election

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State Wale Akinterinwa.

Akinterinwa who was a former commissioner of finance in Ondo State under late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Saturday participated in the APC governorship election in the state but lost to the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa who was declared winner of the exercise.

However, according to sources who spoke to The Nation, Akinterinwa is currently being held in the EFCC custody over alleged mismanagement of billions of Naira.

The sources said the ex-commissioner was invited some weeks ago by the anti-graft body for interaction on some allegations, but was “allegedly too busy” to honour the invitation.

He, however, showed up at the anti-graft commission’s office on Thursday.

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It was learnt that EFCC decided to be silent on the detention in order not to jeopardise Akinterinwa’s chances in the APC primary.

The source said; “In the past few weeks, the EFCC invited Akinterinwa for interrogation on the red flag on some issues during his tenure as Commissioner for Finance. But he has not been forthcoming.

“The commission had the option to declare him wanted, but it exercised restrained to avoid being dragged into politics because he was an aspirant for the APC governorship primary.

“But Akinterinwa voluntarily reported to the EFCC in Abuja. He was taken into custody for quizzing.”

The source added that; “Akinterinwa is still in our custody. We did not arrest or pick him up, but he came up to respond to our long overdue invitation. I can tell you that his detention has no political undertone.”