‘’You Can’t Question EFCC’’ – Kogi Assembly Blasted For Demanding EFCC Boss’ Removal

CityNewsNigeria  reports that the Kogi state house of assembly has been blasted by lawyers, right activities and others for demanding for the removal of Ola Olukoyede as the chairman of of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over attempts to arrest Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi state.

According to the lawyers, Kogi assembly has no constitutional right to question the activities of EFCC especially for the fact that it has to do with the interest of the state and within the jurisdiction of the agency’s statutory provisions.

One of the lawyers, Maduka Onwukeme made it known that the assembly’s resolutions are not binding on the anti-graft agency.

knocked the assembly for not focusing on the greater good of the state but instead, are after protecting their former governor.

He said: “Well legally, the value of this resolution is less than the value of the paper it is written on.

“We operate a federal system of government with clear separation of powers of the organs of government but also different levels of government.

“The EFCC is an agency created by the National Assembly and hence their activities cannot be questioned by the Kogi State House of Assembly.

“Their resolutions are not binding on the EFCC or any agency not created by a law of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

“The lawmakers should concentrate their attention on legislative matters that affect the people of Kogi State and not this wild goose chase.”

Another lawyer and rights activist, Chijioke Ifenkwe described the whole situation as theatrical.

“The Kogi State House of Assembly ordinarily should be interested in the recovery of state funds but apparently they are more interested in protecting their former governor”, he said.

A social critic, Chief Gani Kayode Balogun, popularly called GKB described the whole scenario as sad development.

He knocked the legislators, for calling for the removal of the EFCC boss, noted that the state House of Assembly  lack constitutional power to make such calls.

GKB also faulted the former Kogi governor, Bello for turning his invitation by EFCC to theatrical.

According to him, Yahaya Bello was not the first governor that would be invited by the anti-graft agency for questioning and he will not be the last.

He cautioned the former governor to stop making mockery of the system and face reality by honouring the invitation extended to him.

It is worthy of note  that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Yahaya Bello alongside his Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246, 470,089.88k (Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eighty Kobo).