By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has stated that rather than obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from performing its lawful duty, public officials should honourably answer their invitation.
Fagbemi gave the counsel on Thursday in response to report of some persons trying to obstruct the EFCC from performing its lawful duty.
He stressed that the EFCC has been given the power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigation into any matter regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC but to honourably answer their invitation”, he said.
The AGF said, a situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting.
He noted that a flight from the law does not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbates it.
“I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC and indeed any other agency to order when there is indication of any transgression of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies but I also tenaciously hold the view that institutions of State should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently”, he said.
According to him, Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put our country in a bad light before the rest of the world”, he said.
