The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has urged the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to cooperate with authorities and subject himself to investigation. Bello is currently being sought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corrupt activities during his tenure as governor.
Recent events have unfolded with a series of back-and-forth exchanges between both parties, as the EFCC seeks to arrest the former governor and bring him to court for arraignment. The AGF, in a statement personally signed by him, emphasized that the EFCC has the legal authority to invite any Nigerian citizen for questioning.
The AGF also criticized the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, for using his immunity to prevent Bello’s arrest, describing it as unsettling. He emphasized that resorting to self-help and evading the law would only tarnish Nigeria’s reputation internationally, and that he is committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of all Nigerians.
In his brief statement, the AGF stated, “The troubling situation surrounding the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has come to my attention as a matter of great concern. It is now clear that the EFCC is legally empowered to invite any person of interest for questioning during their investigations, irrespective of their status. Therefore, when invited, the least we can do is to not hinder the EFCC’s work, but rather, honorably comply with their invitation.”
He further added, “It is deeply disconcerting when public officials, who themselves enjoy protection from law enforcement agencies, devise schemes to obstruct the laudable efforts of the EFCC. Fleeing from the law does not resolve the issues at hand, but only exacerbates them.”