Freezing of Benue state account by EFCC is illegal – Gov Yari

The Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has described as illegal and an attempt to shut down the government, the freezing of Benue State account  by the­ Economic and Financial Crimes Commissio­n, EFCC.

“The freezing of any account of the state government whether Benue or anywhere is unconstitutional and is not right, Yari said Wednesday.

” That is shutting down government. Government must spend, most especially Benue that is facing insecurity challenges. Well, we don’t know why the EFCC took the action. But if indeed EFFC freezed the account, from my point of view, it is wrong.

Ortom had recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC), to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the NGF Chairman who spoke after a closed door meeting the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, had with him and his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu and Deputy Governor of Nasarawa, Ali Agara, said that the sack of the Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawan Daura, should serve as a deterrent and warn heads of agencies that the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would not tolerate illegality.

“This government will not sit down and oversee unlawful operation from the security agencies. From what happened yesterday, (Daura sack), everyone can understand that government is following due process and the laws of Nigeria. For one to just send security agencies to shut down the National Assembly, and the action that followed, that is what gave credit to this government by local and international community.

“Similar thing had happened in 2011  and 2014 respectively, but nothing was done about it, this time around, government said enough is enough. But the government of Muhammadu Buhari is following due process and will never oversee an unlawful activity by any security agency. So in the case of Benue, I believe something must be done.”

Also speaking to corespondents, Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano state condemned Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly by security agents, saying that the legislature must be allowed to operate according to law.

He said: “To use security agencies in trying to prevent them from doing there own normal legislative functions, i think it wrong.

“But I have to salute the acting President for taking immediate action in order to save the situation.

“The National Assembly is a very important institution and we will not embarrass ourselves and allow foreigners to view us as undemocratic. It’s very important.

“The situation now has been corrected. It is something that  is unfortunate, we have to move forward.”