The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has in a veiled reference to the Ex-governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello’s antics of evading arrest for questioning on alleged N80.2billion Money Laundering, warned those invited by any law enforcement agencies to desist from “embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.”
He stressed that it is not in doubt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is empowered 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.”
Prince Fagbemi in a statement personally signed by him, noted that “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. “
He condemned any acts of obstructing EFCC from doing their working saying “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. “
He urged 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.
OPTIMUM TIMES recalled that on Wednesday, operatives of the EFCC fenced off the Abuja residence of Ex-governor Bello in attempt to arrest him for questioning but he was forcefully whisked away by the incumbent Kogi state Governor, Usman Ododo, leading to shootout.
The full text of the statement reads:
EFCC SHOULD NOT BE OBSTRUCTED FROM PERFORMING ITS LAWFUL DUTY
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.
Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN
Attorney-General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice
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