The Attorney General of the Federation AGF and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi has warned that running away from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC would not resolve any issue in dispute.
He has therefore warned the general public against obstructing security agencies in the discharge of their statutory mandate.
He specifically warned that government officials no matter how highly placed should not be involved in carrying out unlawful acts that are detrimental to the law.
Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria issued the warning on Thursday in a statement while reacting to the controversial ways and manners a former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello was helped to escape arrest by the anti-graft agency.
The statement read in part “The bizarre drama confronting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the course of its efforts to perform its statutory duty has come to my notice (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) as a matter of very grave concern.
“It is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given 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.
“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.
“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 bad light before the rest of the world”, the statement said.