The National Progressive Hub (NPH) has condemned the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for invading Kogi state Government lodge in Abuja in an attempt to arrest the former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Bukkie Okangbe, said it is a well known fact that Nigeria is a country govern by law.
According to her, the Nigeria’s constitution clearly gives credence to the fundamental human rights of every citizen irrespective of position or status in which those rights are meant to be enjoyed by every citizen.
“So, also are state actors and agencies expected to carry out their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the law of the land thereby respecting the fundamental human rights of the citizens. This is part of what depicts a sane society in the 21st Century.
“As a group of individuals that believe in the rule of law and the sanctity of the constitution, we know that while the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) as an agency of government has the responsibility to it duty, we also believe that such responsibility must be carried out within the ambit of the law.
“Our law respect the divinity of every citizen and any agency behaving contrary to this must be called to order. There are anti crime agencies all over the world and they have not been seen misusing and abusing power like the EFCC has continued to do.
“It was on record that the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was at the EFCC offfice in Abuja on Tuesday 17th, 2024 to honour the agency’s call for interrogation.
While the agency could have used the opportunity to ask the former governor any necessary questions of their choice for clarification, he was simply asked to go home only for the men of the agency to come later in the night to carryout an unlawful operation capable of throwing the nation into another security uproar.”
It described the action of the EFCC as not only shameful and unnecessary but totally unprofessional and unethical “especially when the former governor has made himself available to them earlier.
“This act clearly shows that the agency has nothing substantial or evidence-based against the former governor regarding it claim of corruption. All that EFCC is doing is a mere media trial just to gain public sympathy and portray itself as an agency working for the conscience of the nation. We reject and condemned this act of recklessness by the EFCC and wish this doesn’t repeat itself to any individual whatsoever.
“Having seen overtime such abuse of power and reckless invasion by the EFCC especially on prominent and respected personalities in the country, we call on the president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the leadership of the agency to order and not allow the personal and selfish interest of the leaders of the agency to tarnish and rubbish the good image of his Renewed Hope administration.
“We use the occasion of this press release to reiterate our support and commitment to the Renewed Hope Administration of the federal government and thus, call on the EFCC to support the administration and not incite the people against the government through their unprofessional approach to issues.”