November 18, (THEWILL) – The Kogi State Government has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of illegal harassment of state officials
The State Government in a statement titled: “EFCC Resumes Harassment of Kogi Government Officials in Violation of Injunction Restraining it From So Doing”, and signed by its Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, on Thursday, accused the anti-graft agency of harassing its officials “over a bail-out fund the Commission tried fruitlessly” to prove was stashed in an account, despite a Court injunction restraining it.
He said further to a Suit No. HCL/128/2021, filed by the Kogi State Government against the EFCC and other Defendants with respect to the said bail-out funds, “the Court issued an injunction on the 3rd of December, 2021, restraining the EFCC or its agents from inviting or arresting any Kogi State Government official or requesting for any documents in relating to the matter pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.”
“Orders of Court ought not be disobeyed, and never by an institution set up by Law to enforce laws,” it stressed.
“More ridiculous is the claim by the EFCC operatives that came to effect the arrest that they were unaware of the injunction. The question is, can the EFCC claim to be ignorant of an Order of Court which they have already appealed against the ruling, refusing to set same aside? To us, this is an attempt by an agency created by law to drag the rule of law in the mud and operate above the law,” the statement noted.
It added that “the Government of Kogi State supports the anti-corruption agenda of the APC-led Federal Government and has strengthened her institutions to remain transparent and accountable, resulting in our yearly awards from credible agencies, including the World Bank on Fiscal Transparency and Accountability.”
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