Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has made a public appeal to Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, urging him to comply with ongoing inquiries and present himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an investigation into alleged corruption during his administration.
This plea is set against a backdrop of escalating tension over attempts to apprehend Bello for a court appearance scheduled for Thursday.
The EFCC’s recent efforts to detain the ex-governor have been unsuccessful, attracting considerable public and media scrutiny. In a statement personally endorsed by the AGF, he voiced his concerns about the actions of the current Kogi Governor, Ahmed Ododo, who allegedly used his immunity to prevent Bello’s arrest on Wednesday.
Fagbemi described such interventions as “disturbing” and detrimental to the principles of justice and transparency. He stated, “The act of using one’s position to hinder the lawful arrest of an individual is not only disturbing but also a form of evasion that portrays Nigeria negatively on the international stage.”
He stressed that the EFCC has the legal right to summon any Nigerian for questioning and reiterated his dedication to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the rights of all citizens. The AGF expressed in his succinct statement, “The strange drama facing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its attempts to carry out its statutory duty has come to my attention (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) as a matter of serious concern.
“It is now indisputable that the EFCC is legally empowered to invite any person of interest to engage with them during their investigation into any matter, regardless of their status. Therefore, the least we can all do when invited is not to obstruct the EFCC but to respectfully respond to their invitation.
“It is extremely disturbing when public officials, who are themselves protected by law enforcement agents, create a scheme of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to carry out its duty. Evading the law does not resolve the issues at hand but only intensifies them.
“I unequivocally declare that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly hold the EFCC and indeed any other agency accountable when there is evidence of any violation of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies. However, I also firmly believe that state institutions should be allowed to operate effectively and efficiently. Nigeria has a robust judicial system capable of protecting everyone who adheres to the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I, therefore, urge anyone who has been summoned by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately follow the path of decency and civility by honoring such invitation instead of resorting to delaying tactics, self-help, and evasion, which can only tarnish our country’s image in the eyes of the world.”
