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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC on banana peel?

    EFCC on banana peel?

    Is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), under Chairman Olanipekun Olukayode, about slipping on the banana peel, thus in word or act bungling what is essentially duty?  This question is apt because of two different developments.

    In its showdown with former Kogi State Governor, Yahya Bello, the EFCC thundered it would pull all stops to cage the ex-governor, fleeing from its dragnet.  Bello, the self-named “white lion of Kogi” while in power, has so far been declared wanted.

    A former governor has no immunity.  Bello should have honoured EFCC’s invitation, and even after, turned himself in, as befitting of the dignity of his former high office.  But if he decides on infantile fleeing, EFCC is within its powers to arrest him and start the due process on whatever charges it may levy against him.

    But EFCC went too far, bragging it could involve the Army to arrest Bello.  That’s craven and shameful — is ex-Governor Bello so mighty the Police, with the EFCC corps, can’t arrest him?  What has the Army got to do with purely civil matters? 

    Read Also: Graça Machel: Meet woman who became First Lady of two different countries

    The criminal-justice system is strictly a civil matter.  Besides, a case involving a former elected governor ought to come with far more sensitivity.  Must the military always act as a defining rod over civil matters in a democracy, given Nigeria’s terrible experience under military rule? 

    Pray, did anyone ever hear the military yield ground on its enclave courts-martial, while trying its errant officers, even if that process itself is subject to appeal and possible review by the Court of Appeal, should the convict declare himself dissatisfied?

    So, let the EFCC banish the thought of unleashing the Army to arrest anyone.  It’s a craven weakening of itself as a civil institution.  The Police and EFCC corps can do the job.

    Then, the Wale Akinterinwa matter.  EFCC announced on April 22 that Akinterinwa, Ondo’s ex-Finance commissioner and aspirant in the April 20 APC gubernatorial primary election, was in its net.

    The optics of that sucks.  How can an aspirant, in a governorship election, be in EFCC’s net on the eve of the exercise, without folks concluding — fairly or unfairly — that the EFCC was descending into politics?  Yeah, yeah: EFCC explained that  Akinterinwa “turned himself in” — maybe.  But the perception is no less rotten.

    The Ola Olukayode EFCC should be careful not to down itself with unforced errors; lest it slips on needless banana peels.  That it must do with careful comments and even more careful actions. 

    Both are imperative if it must successfully fight graft and be seen to be so.

  • Ondo: EFCC probes N60b looted in six months

    Ondo: EFCC probes N60b looted in six months

    • A-G confirms anti-graft commission’s operation in state

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing allegations of large-scale looting in Ondo State in the last six months of Akeredolu administration, it was learnt yesterday.

    The anti-graft agency is probing the looting of  N60 billion through the alleged forgery of the deceased governor’s signature.

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu died in December last year, following a protracted illness. Shortly before he passed on, there were allegations that his signature was forged in a bid to perpetuate fraud.

    Former officials of the defunct administration have been summoned and interrogated by the EFCC over the allegations.

    Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Dr. Olukayode Ajulo (SAN) confirmed that some former officials of the defunct administration have been summoned and interrogated by the EFCC.

    He said the state government had received petitions implicating  former government officials and associates allegedly involved in the misappropriation and signature forgery.

    The source in EFCC said: “So far, our operatives are investigating alleged misappropriation of about N60billion. We have interrogated many former officials of Ondo State Government. We will still invite more. Preliminary findings have indicated that some of them have issues to clarify.”

    The source added: “A bend on the ongoing investigation is alleged forgery of a signature to withdraw cash from government accounts.

    “Our operatives are scrutinizing all memos and approvals to ascertain if due process was followed. At the appropriate time, the EFCC will brief Nigerians.”

    Read Also: Graça Machel: Meet woman who became First Lady of two different countries

     Ajulo, who confirmed the ongoing investigations against individuals and corporations, said the state government will not interfere in the ongoing probe of its past officials.

    He maintained that one of the allegations being probed by the EFCC was the misappropriation and signature forgery to withdraw public funds.

    Ajulo said: “The  state government will not interfere with the operations of agencies such as the Police, EFCC, ICPC, and the Ondo State Public Complaint, Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Commission.

    “Some petitions specifically implicate former government officials, alleging misappropriation and signature forgery during the tenure of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

     “Various issues have emerged regarding alleged fraud committed using the name, approvals, and signatures of the late Governor Akeredolu by past and some present government officials.

    “One particular focus of these petitions revolves around a youth empowerment programme involving artisans and market women, as well as the use of unauthorized agreements to defraud the government of Ondo State.

    “The Ondo State Government operates based on laws and regulations, and entering into agreements with the government requires proper authorization and approval. When such authorization and approval are lacking, it raises serious concerns.”

  • Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC suit against order restraining ex-Kogi governor’s arrest

    Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC suit against order restraining ex-Kogi governor’s arrest

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday did not sit to hear the appeal lodged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the order of a Kogi High Court which restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting the immediate-past governor, Yahaya Bello.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kogi court, in a ruling on April 17, restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting Bello.

    The judge, I.A Jamil, gave the order in a two-hour judgment delivered in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Wednesday.

    Read Also: EFCC detains Ondo governorship aspirant Akinterinwa

    The judgment coincided with the  ”siege’ nvasion of Bello’s home in Abuja by EFCC operatives in a bid to arrest him.

    The EFCC is seeking to arraign the former governor on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2billion.

    The anti-graft agency determined to get Bello to face the law for his alleged crime, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja on the same day to get an arrest warrant.

    .The warrant was issued following an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC.

    In his ruling on the motion, Justice Emeka Nwite also directed that the former governor be produced before him on Thursday, April 18, for arraignment.

    He said, “It is hereby ordered as follows:

    That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing and/or issuing a warrant for the immediate arrest of the defendant to bring him before this honourable court for arraignment.

    “That case is adjourned until April 18 for arraignment.”

    (NAN)

  • EFCC investigates 11 suspected oil thieves in Lagos

    EFCC investigates 11 suspected oil thieves in Lagos

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has begun investigation of 11 suspected oil thieves and one vessel, MT SAISNIL II, arrested by the Nigerian Navy.

    The spokesperson for the commission, Mr Dele Oyewole, confirmed this in a statement yesterday.

    Oyewole said that the suspects and vessel were handed over to the commission by the Nigerian Navy, NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos.

    Read Also: EFCC investigates 11 suspected oil thieves in Lagos

    He said the vessel and the crew were intercepted and arrested on February 7, 2024 by naval officers.

    He said the suspects were allegedly involved in illegal oil bunkering and Automatic Identification System (AIS) infractions at Abo Oilfield, Ogogoro Community, Ondo State. “The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded by commission’s operatives in its Lagos Command,” he said.

  • EFCC versus celebrities

    EFCC versus celebrities

    The jailing of cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, appears to have been a win-win situation for both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the offender. The anti-graft agency got its conviction with minimal effort, and the cross-dresser took a six-month jail term for naira abuse rather than have the agency poking its anti-money laundering nose into his fairly substantial deposits. To all intents and purposes, Bobrisky was, or agreed to be, railroaded into jail. Everything seemed to have been negotiated. For the EFCC, the Bobrisky naira abuse case was a cause célèbre, essentially because the sentencing dispensed with the option of fine. Having pleaded guilty and saved the EFCC time and money in prosecution, everybody expected him to get a slap on the wrist, a conviction that would allow him to pay fine and walk home a free man.

    It is not clear whether the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) will investigate the cross-dresser’s finances, particularly his bank statements unearthed by the EFCC, and call him to account. But for the anti-graft agency, prosecuting Mr Okuneye for money laundering would probably be double jeopardy if the task is undertaken sometime in the future. In the initial six-count charge filed against Mr OKuneye, the EFCC was to pin him down over the payment of some N127.7m and another N53m into the account of his company, Bob Express, between 2021 and 2024. Eventually, the agency tried him for naira abuse, forswore the money laundering charge, and after he probably panicked and pleaded guilty, the court jailed him for six months.

    The conviction, not to say the unexpected sentencing without an option of fine, is a double-edged sword for the EFCC. A few short weeks after picking up Mr Okuneye for interrogation and successfully prosecuting him, the anti-graft agency has also picked up Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana chief priest, a socialite, for the same offence. The video of how he turned money spraying into a virtuoso art had gone viral and left the EFCC with no choice but to invite him. Even though the agency had explained that February 2024 was the cut-off date for those who committed the infraction to attract the hammer, it was nevertheless inundated with videos mostly of celebrities having fun at the expense of the naira and even dollars. To ignore the ‘helpful tips’ would open the EFCC to allegations of bias and selective prosecution, particularly of the most insidious variety. Already, there are insinuations that the EFCC targeted Mr Okuneye for his cross-dressing peccadillo rather than naira abuse. However, taking cognisance of the videos and acting on them could also expose the agency to allegations of persecution of celebrities; for clearly, naira spraying had become a sport for the rich and famous.

    Read Also: EFCC investigates 11 suspected oil thieves in Lagos

    More importantly, by prosecuting Mr Okuneye and jailing him without an option of fine, the EFCC will have an uphill battle getting a plea bargain from any subsequent naira abuse suspect. It was not surprising that the second celebrity hauled into the anti-graft agency’s net adamantly refused to plead guilty and get a predictably short trial. Mr Okechukwu is both defiant and unimpressed with the EFCC’s charges. His lawyers may have told him that the grounds of the indictment against him can be successfully challenged. Spraying naira, they have probably told him, does not amount to abuse, mutilation or defacement. In any case, after Mr Okuneye pleaded guilty, it did not save him from a six-month jail term. So, why not fight the charges to its logical end? For, after all, a jail term is probably the best and worst option for anyone who pleads guilty or not guilty. Henceforth, EFCC can bank on offenders refusing to take the guilty plea, while unending supply of ‘helpful’ video tips and consequent prosecution risk turning the agency into a circus.

    While the anti-graft agency could not ignore the tips when they come, and had indeed tried to limit the number of cases to be prosecuted, it simply has to find a more ingenious way of walking back its earlier determination to deal firmly with the vice of naira abuse. The agency did well to prosecute Mr Okuneye and do it cheaply, but the more videos sent to the agency, the deeper the snare EFCC finds itself. It is an unprofitable venture open to a lot of interpretations and booby traps. The initial euphoria is dying down very quickly after the first prosecution. No wonder the Central Bank of Nigeria and law enforcement agencies had been disinclined to arrest and prosecute offenders. They showed little interest. They suspected it could quickly become a circus. Yet, the vice could not be left unattended to. It was necessary to do something; but what the EFCC has eventually chosen to do now seems nugatory. The government should, however, not give up; they have a responsibility of finding a nearly perfect way of handling the issue. One way is to amend Section 21 (1) of the CBN Act, 2007 and remove the jail term option and substitute it with a fine of say, N10m, adjusted for inflation as time goes on. That should rein in the naira spraying madness. Putting Mr Okuneye in jail is one more mouth for wearied Nigerian taxpayers to feed, and one controversial and difficult cross-dresser to maintain.

  • EFCC investigates 11 suspected oil thieves in Lagos

    EFCC investigates 11 suspected oil thieves in Lagos

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has begun investigation of 11 suspected oil thieves and one vessel, MT SAISNIL II, arrested by the Nigerian Navy.

    The spokesperson for the commission, Mr Dele Oyewole, confirmed this on Saturday in a statement.

    Oyewole said that the suspects and vessel were handed over to the commission by the Nigerian Navy, NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos.

    Read Also: Don’t shun EFCC’s invitation, Cubana Chief Priest advises

    He said that the vessel and the crew were intercepted and arrested on Feb. 7, 2024 by naval officers.

    He said the suspects were allegedly involved in illegal oil bunkering and Automatic Identification system (AIS) infractions at Abo Oilfield, Ogogoro Community, Ondo State.

    “The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded by commission’s operatives in its Lagos Command,” he said (NAN) 

  • EFCC and the brigandage that won’t stop

    EFCC and the brigandage that won’t stop

    By Lere Olayinka 

    Nigerians have always been sentimental about issues concerning Politically Exposed Persons and it is understandable.

    I still remember what many Nigerians said about Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) then. What has happened to Dasuki and all the Arms Money they claimed he stole? Has anyone been convicted on the basis of the basis of what was termed then as Dasuki Gate? 

    Even Dasuki that they claimed had weapons “capable of disrupting the peace of any city in Nigeria for a while” is in his house now, enjoying life.

    I remember what many Nigerians said about Ayo Fayose then too. Some people even said that Fayose will go to jail the moment he was out of power as Ekiti Governor.

    While still in office as governor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives were everywhere, invading properties perceived as his. A petrol station in Akute, Ogun State was shut down by EFCC operatives. The news was that Fayose owned the petrol station, but a few days after shutting down the petrol station, it was reopened by the same EFCC operatives having found out that they acted wrongly. Many buildings in Ekiti were marked with the usual EFCC INVESTIGATION KEEP OFF! The marks were latter to be cleaned when they realized that the houses were not owned by Fayose.

    Then, when Fayose said he will report at the EFCC office in Abuja at 1pm on October 16, 2018, many Nigerians said he was only using that as a decoy to run away from Nigeria. But as he promised, Fayose reported at the EFCC office in Abuja, wearing a T-shirt with inscription, “EFCC I’M HERE.”

    Today is April 19, 2024, Fayose’s trial that started on October 22, 2018, is still on, close to SIX YEARS after it started.

    Early last year, EFCC was bragging about how the then Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle will be arrested and prosecuted after his tenure for alleged N70 billion fraud.

    Today, Bello Matawalle is a serving Minister. In fact, he is in charge of defense!

    Also, in June last year, Federal High Court, Abuja, restrained the EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) from detaining former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdulaziz Yari.

    Up till today, EFCC has not invaded the residences of Matawalle and Yari to arrest them. They have not been declared wanted and placed on watchlist too.

    Now, it is about Yahaya Bello, immediate past governor of Kogi State.

    As usual, EFCC is presenting Yahaya Bello as one who is running from investigation and prosecution. His residence has been invaded. He has been declared wanted. He has been placed on WATCHLIST.

    But in all these EFCC usual dramas, the public has not been told whether or not, Yahaya Bello was at any time INVITED by the EFCC.

    Methinks EFCC should oblige Nigerians with its Invitation Letter to Yahaya Bello with the date it was received and who received it.

    Furthermore, on March 14, 2024, EFCC  charged Yahaya Bello before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for alleged N84 billion money laundering offences,  alongside his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu.

    Now, the question is, if someone has been charged to court, of what essence is the arrest and interrogation?

    When charges are filed by the investigating authorities against and accused person and such person is arraigned in court, it presumes the conclusion of investigations, meaning that such an accused only has business with the court, not the investigating authority any longer.

    Therefore, in the case of Yahaya Bello, he only needs to appear in court on the next adjustment date or when he is served with the court processes.

    Meanwhile, there is a court order barring arrest and prosecution of Yahaya Bello, and EFCC is at the Court of Appeal, challenging the order. So why not wait for the Appeal Court to determine the appeal?

    Also, a Federal High Court, Abuja, is scheduled to rule on the application by EFCC, seeking a substituted service of the charge on Yahayo Bello, on April 23, 2024.

    Read Also: Naira Abuse: Portable cries out on alleged EFCC’s plan to arrest him

    Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), and the ex-governor’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), presented their arguments for and against the oral application.

    Mohammed, who announced appearance for Yahaya Bello, challenged the validity of the charge on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter on the one hand and to have issued the arrest warrant against his client on the other hand.

    He informed the court that a preliminary objection had already been filed before the court, to the effect.

    The lawyer urged the court to vacate the arrest warrant order, pointed out that a High Court in Kogi State had on February 9, 2024, restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting, detaining or prosecuting the former governor.

    He said the ruling was on a fundamental rights suit filed by the Yahaya Bello, and that the EFCC was a party in the matter.

    So, why should the EFCC declare someone it is already prosecuting in court wanted? Isn’t it the duty of the court to issue warrant of arrest against an accused it is trying? 

    Methinks once an accused is charged to court, the prosecutor no longer have any right on him or her. 

    In this case, having charged Yahaya Bello to court and his lawyers were in court to represent him, should the EFCC still declare him wanted? Isn’t that the duty of the court? Is it right for an agency of government to act in a way to suggest that it is overreaching the court?

    The court adjourned till Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to rule on EFCC’s application for substituted service on Yahaya Bello, why should EFCC act like it was seeking self-help? 

    These are questions lovers of democracy and the rule of law should ask, not falling for the usual drama of the EFCC, which in most cases have led to shoddy prosecution of cases. 

    Let me say this again, I am in support of the investigation and trial of anyone for corruption in this country. 

    After all, when the police in Ekiti State invited me for alleged stealing of N13 million while serving as head of the State Broadcasting Service, I reported at the Police Headquarters in Ado Ekiti almost immediately.

    I was charged to court and grated bail, and I was going from Abuja to Ado Ekiti to attend court from March 2020 till May 2022 that the case was dismissed for lack of prosecution. 

    For more than three years that I was going to court, the Ekiti State Government that took me to court for corruption did not show up. They simply abandoned the case and left me to waste my time and resources coming to court.

    After the usual drama of the EFCC, the same situation I faced for more than three years is what many Nigerians being prosecuted by the the commission are facing. In some cases, it will be the EFCC that will raise issues about the integrity of judges, causing transfer of cases to other judges and the matters starting afresh. 

    Like I have maintained, corruption cases are not prosecuted and won by public drama as being done by the EFCC. They are won through diligent investigation and prosecution, ICPC has been more successful in prosecuting corruption cases than the EFCC.

    I hope that soon, Nigerians will begin to ask questions as to why ICPC does not make noise, but has achieved more conviction in corruption cases than EFCC, the Aláríwo (Noisemaker) of Nigeria.

    It is Yahaya Bello today, tomorrow, who knows whether it will be you or someone very close to you. Reason EFCC must be told to stop being dramatic and do its jobs in accordance with the laws of the country.

    I am still Lere Olayinka. I am here with the Irunmales of Oke Agbonna in Okemesi Ekiti, doing Night Vigil.

  • Don’t desecrate courts while fighting corruption, anti-graft CSOs caution EFCC, others

    Don’t desecrate courts while fighting corruption, anti-graft CSOs caution EFCC, others

    Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) have advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to desecrate the courts in the course of carrying out its constitutional role of fighting corruption.

    The CSOs and human rights crusaders cautioned the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies against trampling on the rights of supposed suspects of corruption in order to avoid breaking a law to enforce another law.

    The activists, who spoke at a briefing in Lagos on Thursday, noted specifically that the recent public face-off between the EFCC and a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in Abuja, was “both unnecessary and unfortunate.”

    The Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Debo Adeniran,suggested that the rush by the EFCC to make an arrest, when the Court of Appeal hearing on its application to vacate the restraining order was just in a few days, might give credence to allegations of political persecution.

    “Mr. Olukoyede is my friend. But if he begins to trample on the rule of law, then that’s the terminal point of our friendship,” Adeniran said.

    The CSOs noted that the EFCC’s action on Wednesday was “tantamount to the agency preempting the outcome of its appeal and also violating a subsisting and valid court order to pause action pending the determination of the case before it.”

    “Our layman’s understanding is that a Court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot assume superiority over another,” they noted.

    Gbenga Soloki of the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence, who also spoke, said civil societies in Nigeria would protest vehemently against any attempt to use the military to arrest an individual who had not been accused of treason.

    “It is extremely disappointing to hear this afternoon that EFCC is threatening to involve the military in their desperation to forcefully or violently arrest an individual who has not been alleged of treason.

    “Should that happen, we will be a laughing stock globally. Civil society will be active in protesting against such unforgivable infraction on our democracy should it happen as threatened. It should better not happen,” he said.

    Adeniran stated, “We do not consider Yahaya Bello a saint, but even the devil deserves his rights under the law. Court documents at our disposal show that the former Governor had obtained a High Court restraining order on the EFCC not to arrest or prosecute him pending the determination of a case of the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, which the Commission has rightfully appealed with the intention of vacating.

    “The Commission has done very well up to this point following the due processes of law because without vacating that order, it cannot proceed with arresting the suspect.

    “According to available court documents, hearing on the appeal has been slated to come up on Monday April 22nd in Abuja. However, suddenly yesterday (Wednesday) the news of the foiled arrest of the former Governor by the Commission went viral. One would have expected the Commission to wait for the determination of its own appeal before going after the suspect.

    “We think it is an abuse of court processes to ignore a court order still on appeal at the instance of the Commission and to obtain a warrant of arrest from another court on the same suspect.”

    The CSOs urged the EFCC to fight, prevent and prosecute corruption cases strictly within the ambit of the law set up to regulate the interaction between them and corruption suspects.

    They noted that laws, including the Nigerian criminal justice system regulations and court processes, were meant to be obeyed non-selectively by both state and non-state actors.

    The CSOs recalled that when the current Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, came on board last year, one of his promises was to operate strictly within the rule of law.

    Read Also: BREAKING: EFCC declares Yahaya Bello wanted over alleged N80bn ‘financial crimes’

    “For those who are likely to misinterpret this intervention as it is their regular trademark, this goes beyond Yahaya Bello. Injustice to anyone should not be allowed to stand because it may be your turn tomorrow,” they noted.

    The activists therefore urged the EFCC to revert to status quo antebellum pending the determination of its appeal and a vacation of the restraining order placed on it, saying “that is the way and dictate of the law.”

    The press conference was attended by Comrades Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership CACOL); Sina Loremikan, (Campaign Against Impunity); Declan Ihekhaire, (Activists for Good Governance); Gbenga Soloki, CADOV; Ochiaga Ohaneze, (Ohaneze Youth Council); Funmi Jolade, (Women Democratic Vanguard); Kola Abe, (Centre for Socioeconomic Rights); Ologun Ayodeji, (Transparency and Accountability Group); Femi Lawson, (Centre for Public Accountability) and Gbenga Ganzallo (Media Rights Campaign), among others.

  • Yahaya Bello: AGF Fagbemi warns against further obstruction of EFCC

    Yahaya Bello: AGF Fagbemi warns against further obstruction of EFCC

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has warned against further obstruction of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its operations.

    Fagbemi, who described as a “bizarre drama” the confrontation that the EFCC experienced in Abuja on Wednesday in its attempt to arrest the immediate past governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, said the commission has the power to invite anybody in the course of its investigation.

    The AGF, in a statement on Thursday, April 18, said the most anybody who is invited by the EFCC or other law enforcement agencies could do is honour the invitation and clear his or her name.

    The statement reads: “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. 

    Read Also: Drama, confusion trail EFCC’s bid to arrest Yahaya Bello

    “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.”

  • BREAKING: EFCC threatens to involve Military in arresting Yahaya Bello

    BREAKING: EFCC threatens to involve Military in arresting Yahaya Bello

    …accuses Gov Ododo of frustrating arrest of predecessor

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to involve the military in executing the order issued on Wednesday, April 17, for the arrest of the immediate past governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) issued the threat on Thursday, April 18, before a Federal High Court in Abuja while accusing Bello’s successor, Usman Ododo of frustrating his client’s effort to execute the order on Wednesday.

    Pinheiro said: “What happened yesterday was that a person with immunity (Ododo) came to whisk him (Bello) away to abort his arrest.

    Read Also: Call EFCC to order, Yahaya Bello urges Tinubu

    “We know that he is being kept in his successor’s house. Immunity is not attached to a home but to a person.

    “We can invite the military to invade the building where he is being kept to execute the order of this court. What is edifying for him is to come to court and not to continue to play games.

    “We want to come next week so that we can produce him. We know what to do. He cannot stand in the way of the Constitution.

    “A former president of the United States was indicted, he is attending court. He did not play pranks by filing frivolous cases.

    “If he believes he is innocent, he should come before the court and defend it here.”

    Details shortly…