The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has urged the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to take the path of decency and submit himself for investigation.
Bello is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of corruption during his tenure as governor of Kogi State.
Over the past 24 hours, there has been a back-and-forth between the two parties regarding the attempt to arrest the former governor for a court appearance scheduled for Thursday.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the AGF emphasized that the EFCC is legally empowered to invite any Nigerian for questioning. He criticized the actions of the current Kogi State governor, Ahmed Ododo, who used his immunity to block Bello’s arrest on Wednesday, calling it “disquieting.” He added that avoiding the law can only tarnish Nigeria’s reputation internationally.
Fagbemi reiterated his commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that no Nigerian’s rights are violated.
In his statement, the AGF expressed concern about the challenges faced by the EFCC in carrying out its statutory duties, stressing the importance of public officials cooperating with the commission.
“Avoiding the law does not resolve the issues at hand but only worsens them,” Fagbemi noted. He also stated that he supports the proper functioning of state institutions and urged anyone invited by the EFCC or any other agency to comply with such invitations.
Fagbemi concluded by encouraging those summoned by the EFCC to follow the path of decency and cooperate with the investigation to avoid bringing shame upon the country.
