Ex-gov, Daniel, returns from London

Nineteen days after leaving the country on the eve of inauguration of his successor, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Wednesday returned to the country from London, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Daniel, who arrived aboard a British Airways flight which touched down at about 6.24pm, was dressed in a blue suit and red inner shirt.
After disembarking from the BA’s Boeing 747-400 plane, the former governor, accompanied by some of his aides, passed through the VIP section to emerge at the departure hall, where he was being awaited by journalists.
Daniel, who spotted a pair of dark glasses, beamed with smiles as he declined to give specific answers to questions asked by journalists.
The former governor was driven away in a black Toyota Land Cruiser jeep with Lagos registration number TS 337AAA. The jeep left in a convoy of other cars.
The following conversation ensued between journalists and Daniel at the Lagos airport.
Journalists: So many stories are surrounding your travel, what is the next thing now?
Daniel: I wish you well... (laughs).... I wish you well... no comment...(laughs)
Before Daniel’s arrival, a top security source at the MMIA, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said Daniel was not on security agencies’ watchlist. He said the former governor would be processed like any other passenger.
As early as 3pm, journalists had besieged the MMIA, waiting for the former governor to arrive. There were speculations that he would be arrested on arrival at MMIA by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
But in a brief telephone chat with our correspondent, EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said he was not sure that operatives of the anti-graft agency were at the airport to arrest Daniel.
He said the agency would carry out such action when the need arose.
“When we are through with our investigations, we will do whatever needs to be done,” he said.
Daniel, on the eve of the new administration in the state, on May 27, left the country for London.
Meanwhile, Daniel’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, has described the Wednesday arrival of the former governor as a vindication of his loyalists.
Adegbenro, who spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Abeokuta, the state capital, while reacting to the governor’s arrival, regretted the speculation that the former governor had escaped out of the country to escape anti-graft agencies.
“We have said it before that he only travelled on a short holiday rest for just about two weeks and am happy we have been vindicated,” he stated.
By Francis Falola and Oyetunji Abioye                          Courtesy Of: Punch