AGF Slams Kogi Gov, Demands EFCC’s Independence

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s obstruction to his arrest by his successor, Usman Ododo, has been characterised as “insufferably unsettling” by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

In a statement released on Thursday, the AGF emphasised that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should not have any difficulties in carrying out its lawful responsibilities.

According to Fagbemi, who personally signed the statement, “It is, to say the least, insufferably disquieting” that public officials who are themselves protected by law enforcement agents would devise a plan to obstruct the EFCC’s civil and commendable efforts to carry out its mission.

Rather of solving the problems at hand, evading justice makes them worse.

“I stand firmly for the rule of law and will hold the EFCC and any other agency to account when there is evidence of a violation of any Nigerian’s fundamental rights by any of those agencies. However, I am also firmly of the belief that state institutions should be given the freedom to work efficiently and effectively.”