Posted by By EMERSON GOBERT, JR. on
The Rivers State Government has described the declaration of some officials of the state government wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a witch hunt of the state government and its officials.
The Rivers State Government has described the declaration of some officials of the state government wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a witch hunt of the state government and its officials.
A statement by David Iyofor, Media Consultant to the Rivers State governor, said that the declaration has shown clearly that EFCC is on a sinister mission against the state government and its officials, and this mission has nothing to do with fighting corruption.
The top aide to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi stated:
'First, the EFCC arrested the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Magnus Abe, who, out of courtesy, had gone to their office in Abuja to submit a letter to explain the absence of some state officials who were invited by the commission. In the letter EFCC wrote to us, Abe was not invited by the commission, yet, he was held for two days, no explanations, no reason was given for his detention.
'On November 17, 2008, a Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, presided by Justice G.K.
Olotu gave an order restraining the EFCC from inviting, interrogating, detaining, arresting or requesting or compelling any official of the Rivers State Government to disclose any information, give out any document or record of whatever kind, pending the determination of the suit we filed against the EFCC. This order was very clear and unambiguous, and the EFCC was duly served. Besides, in 2006, former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili got a court order restraining the EFCC from Rivers State Government officials. It's a well known fact that, that order has not been vacated or set aside by a competent court.
'We were reliably informed that in a recent meeting at the commission, the legal department of EFCC had strongly advised the Chairman, Farida Waziri not to arrest or declare wanted our state government officials because of the subsisting court order. But the commission still went ahead to make the declaration in its bid to ridicule and embarrass the governor and government of Rivers State.'
'But in truth, it is the judiciary that is being ridiculed here. It is our courts that are being grossly violated and disregarded. It is the rule of law and due process that is being disregarded and thrown to the dust bin. Farida Waziri-led EFCC has shown clearly that the rule of law and due process has no place in its scheme of things.
This is indeed very sad, especially for the Yar' Adua administration that touts rule of law and due process as an abiding principle. Farida Waziri's EFCC is making rubbish of this administration's policy of obedience of court orders, respect for the rule of law and adherence to due process.'
'In Rivers State, the EFCC is pursuing a sinister agenda, that we are convinced, has nothing to do with fighting corruption.'