Tinubu Govt blasts Gov Ododo for helping Yahaya Bello evade arrest

The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has criticized Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State for impeding the arrest of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Fagbemi denounced Ododo’s actions as “unacceptably troubling,” emphasizing that obstructing the EFCC from executing Bello’s arrest is unacceptable.

On Wednesday, EFCC operatives raided Bello’s residence in Abuja as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of fraud. However, Bello was allegedly spirited away from his residence by Ododo to avoid apprehension by the anti-graft agency.

In response, Fagbemi stressed that the EFCC must not face hindrance in carrying out its lawful duties.

In a statement he personally signed, 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.

“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.”