By Damilare Adeleye
The federal government through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has called on the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to follow the path of decency and submit himself for probe.
It was understood that Bello is being wanted and investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corrupt practices while in office as governor of Kogi State.
Meanwhile, efforts by operatives of EFCC to arrest the ex-governor at his residence in Abuja on Wednesday was thwarted by the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, who came to smuggle him out from his residence amid heavy security.
Reacting to the yesterday drama, the AGF, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, said EFCC is empowered by law to invite any Nigerian for interrogation.
He also described the action of the incumbent governor of Kogi State, who used his immunity to prevent Bello’s arrest on Wednesday as ‘disquieting’, adding that embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put Nigeria in bad light before the rest of the world is not the way to go.
According to him, he stands for the rule of law and will ensure no right of any Nigerian is trampled upon.
His terse 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.
“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.”