Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has urged the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello, to toe the part of decency by honouring the invitation extended to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to Fagbemi, nobody can resolve issues by merely running away from them.
The AGF’s advice was as a result of the botched efforts by the anti-graft agency to carry out the orders of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which granted a warrant for the arrest of the fleeing governor.
Based on the orders, the EFCC had on Wednesday stormed the Abuja residence of the former governor to arrest him and produce him in court to answer to alleged money laundering to the tune of over N80 billion.
But Bello was said to have escaped arrest when his successor, Usman Ododo, used his position as governor to allegedly shield him from arrest.
Reacting, the AGF, who expressed disappointment over how those in authorities misused their powers, warned against obstructing security agencies in the discharge of their statutory mandate.
According to him, government officials, no matter how highly placed, should not be involved in carrying out unlawful acts that are detrimental to the law.
In a statement in Abuja Thursday, the minister 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.”
He lamented that a situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents 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.
He stressed that 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,” the statement added.
