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Submit Yourself To EFCC – FG Tells Ex-Kogi Gov Yahaya Bello
The Federal Government has asked the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to act with integrity and present himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.
Nation Post reports that Bello is currently being sought by the EFCC for alleged corrupt activities during his tenure as governor of Kogi State.
Yesterday, operatives of the anti-graft agency barricaded his house in Abuja in a bid to arrest him. However, the EFCC operatives later vacated Bello’s residence following the arrival of his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, who was alleged to have whisked the former governor away.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has urged the former governor to give in and allow the EFCC to do their job.
The AGF emphasized that the EFCC has the legal authority to summon any Nigerian citizen for questioning.
He criticized the current governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, for using his immunity to shield Bello from arrest on Wednesday, labelling it as ‘disturbing’.
He stated that resorting to delaying tactics and avoidance strategies that could tarnish Nigeria’s reputation globally is not the appropriate course of action.
The AGF reiterated his commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of all Nigerians.
The AGF said: “The bizarre drama confronting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the course of its efforts to perform its statutory duty has come to my notice (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) as a matter of very grave concern.
“It is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigation into any matter regardless of status. Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting. A flight
from the law does not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbates it.
“I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC and indeed any other agency to order when there is indication of any transgression of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies but I also tenaciously hold the view that institutions of State should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently. Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world.”
