As the arraignment battle of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello intensifies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned that obstructing officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties is a crime.
This is as the anti-graft agency has insisted that the former governor will be arraigned on Thursday despite confirming that he was whisked away by his predecessor Usman Ododo on Wednesday.
The EFCC spent most part of the day attempting to arrest the former governor whom the Commission later confirmed was whisked away by his predecessor, Governor Usman Ododo.
The Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said that Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties, adding that culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
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This warning comes on the heels of the tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
“Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.
“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organization to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions,” the statement added.
The EFCC has insisted that it will arraign Bello before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday.
The Commission’s spokesperson said Bello will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19- count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80 billion.
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