The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has described the move by Mr. Usman Ododo, the Governor of Kogi State, shielding embattled ex-Gov. Yahaya Bello, his predecessor, from the anti-graft agency as “insufferably disquieting.”
The AGF said in a statement on Thursday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should not be obstructed from carrying out its lawful duties.
The statement reads: “A situation where public officials who are themselves subject to 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 them.
“I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call the 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.”
Persecondnews recalls that the EFCC operatives on Wednesday restricted movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4.
After a few hours, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at Bello’s residence and was later seen allegedly leaving with his predecessor.
An EFCC official could be overheard speaking with someone suspected to be his superior on the phone, saying Bello was inside Ododo’s car that departed.
Shortly after Ododo departed from Bello’s residence, the EFCC personnel left the house.
The EFCC named Bello in an amended money laundering charge against Alli Bello, the incumbent governor of Kogi’s chief of staff, about a month ago.
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