By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, Sept. 22, 2024
A group, under the aegis of Kogi Women Group on Good Governance, have expressed their displeasure over the conduct of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kogi State Governor’s Lodge Abuja on September 18, 2024.
Addressing the press conference in Lokoja, the Convener of the Women Group Hon. Grace Tukura, urged President Bola Tinubu to set up an unbiased investigating team to unravel the causes of harassment of a State Governor who was in company of the former Governor, Yahaya Bello.
“As mothers, we read with chills how the EFCC who had the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yaya Bello, brought to them by the current Governor, who was only fulfilling his civic duties as a citizen of Nigeria, allowed him to go and prefer a dramatised arrest to a person turning himself in, voluntarily.
“We say Gov. Ododo was fulfilling his civic duties because the EFCC declared the former governor wanted and even requested every citizen, including Gov. Ododo who have information about him to report to the nearest security outfit.
“In this case, the current Governor Ododo, personally took the former Governor to EFCC, and tge commission failed to take him in and are giving very laughable excuses.
“We wonder what the scene of EFCC’s attack on the Governor’s Lodge would have turned to, if Governor Ododo was not a perfect gentleman to put his security men in check not to return fire.
“We therefore say that the attack on the Kogi Governor’s Lodge is an attack on the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and sadly, the act is perpetuated by an agency of the federal government which ought to have known better.
“We therefore, call on our beloved President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to investigate the unfortunate conduct of the EFCC, who instead of commending Governor Ododo for bringing a man on their wanted list to them, decided to attack the Governor, putting his life and those of other innocent people in the neighbourhood in danger,” the group said.
The group stressed that, the attack on Governor Ododo was an attack on the entire people of Kogi State and the Nigerian Constitutional Democracy.
The group added: “It was an attempted coup de tat on our governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo.
“As concerned mothers, we want to thank Governor Ododo for his maturity in preventing what would have resulted in the possible death of many innocent citizens for the unprofessional actions of the EFCC”.
Similarly, other speakers at the Press Conference said: “Gov. Ododo’s decision to go with the former Governor Yahaya Bello to the EFCC was borne out of his patriotic zeal to ensure that law enforcement agencies are respected and supported to do their job, especially as the former Governor also expressed his readiness to honour the invitation of the Anti Graft Agency as a leader who has respect for constituted institutions.
“It is important to place on record that the former Governor in company of Gov Usman Ahmed Ododo visited the EFCC to honour the invitation by the commission.
“We are aware that the Former Governor spent well over four hours in the office of the EFCC, until he was asked to go with assurances that he will be invited again whenever he is needed for interrogation.
“To our utmost concern as women and mothers, we are however taken aback that the Commission, having asked the former Governor in company of the serving Governor to take his leave, would however be made to face molestation by the anti corruption agency, with the Governor’s lodge, in Asokoro surrounded by the men of the EFCC, in a gestapo manner, shooting sporadically, possibly with the attempt to kill the former and present Governor.
“We therefore call for the intervention of Mr. President on the issues, with a cal to ensure that the life and fundamental human rights of the former Governor is protected and respected”, the women said
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