February 13, (THEWILL) – The Kogi State Government has berated the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, for what it called ‘baseless fixation on the state’s affairs with spurious allegations in a bid to satisfy certain political interests.’
THEWILL reports that the face-off between the anti-graft agency and the State Government may not be unconnected to the arraignment of two family members of Governor Yahaya Bello (his nephew, Ali Bello and his wife Rashida Bello) alongside three others for over N3 billion alleged fraud.
While the trial of the governor’s relations and other accused will resume this Monday before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the State Government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, called on the Inspector-General of Police to effect a court, directing Bawa’s arrest and committal to prison.
Titled “EFCC Has Become an Embarrassment to Nigeria”, the statement, said it was sad that an agency charged with the responsibility of fighting graft in the country had turned itself into a pawn in the hands of political opponents of the Kogi State Government with untamed desperation to damage the integrity of the Governor and the Government of Kogi State.
“Allowing convicts to roam about the society portends a great danger to our judicial system. Rasheed Bawa cannot be allowed to continue to disobey Court Orders at will while also evading justice. Let justice be done.
“The latest shenanigans of the EFCC is to accuse some members of the Governor’s family of corruption, arrest them without any prior invitation or warrant and against extant Court Orders restraining them from doing so and charge them to court.
“This has further exposed the uncivilised, unconstitutional and unethical practices of the anti-graft agency. Their latest approach has further confirmed to Nigerians that they have an institutional agenda against the Governor and Government of Kogi State.
“We reiterate that funds belonging to the Kogi State Government are not missing and we retain our enviable status in the areas of transparency, accountability and probity. The shadow chasing by the EFCC and their known and unknown sponsors will not distract our administration from serving our people.
“The seeming attack on Governors that are committed to the victory of the APC Presidential Candidate by the anti-graft agency is well understood by discerning Nigerians. No force can stop the voice of the people”, the state government said, adding that it was committed to fighting on the side of the citizenry as reflected in the recent suit it filed along with others against currency redesign.
It urged the Kogi people to remain calm and not take the law into their hands.
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