Following the refusal of the immediate past governor of Kogi State to surrender to operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has intervened on the matter, charging the former governor to obey the law by surrendering himself.
News About Nigeria reported that the EFCC laid siege on Yahaya’s Abuja home yesterday over his refusal to honour their invitation.
Yahaya, who refused to give in to the EFCC, argued that it was unlawful to detain him as the case is still in the court of law.
The current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, also waded in by visiting his predecessor’s home despite the siege and the right security presence.
Ododo had also reportedly stopped the EFCC from arresting Yahaya, calling on President Bola Tinubu and the AGN to intervene in the situation.
In response to the call, the AGF, in a statement released on Thursday, ordered the former governor to submit himself to the anti-graft agency as they had secured a court order for his arrest.
He further warned that no one should intervene in the matter or stop the commission from performing its lawful duty, as it is part of its fight against corruption.
Fagbemi also threw his weight behind the EFCC, noting that they are on track and that all they do is within the confines of the law.
The statement partly reads, “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 the EFCC but to honourably answer their invitation.
“I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call the 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.”
