Posted by By ENYERIBE EJIOGU on
The on-going investigation of key political figures in the country on allegations of corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, turned violent when Plateau State governor, Mr. Joshua Dariye allegedly ordered and personally led members of his security detail to disarm, beat up and abduct two operatives of the Commission at different occasions in the last four days.
The on-going investigation of key political figures in the country on allegations of corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, turned violent when Plateau State governor, Mr. Joshua Dariye allegedly ordered and personally led members of his security detail to disarm, beat up and abduct two operatives of the Commission at different occasions in the last four days.
In a statement, EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Osita Nwajah, said that on Sunday, 4th December, 2005 the governor personally sought to prevent operatives of the commission from effecting the arrest of his long time acquaintance, Miss Christabel Bentu, with who he had jumped bail in London and escaped to Jos, following their arrest in a London hotel on allegations of money laundering.
The statement reads in full: "On Sunday December 4, Governor Joshua Dariye personally sought to prevent operatives of the commission from effecting the arrest of his long time acquaintance, Miss Christabel Bentu, who, it would be recalled was arrested along with him on September 2, 2004 by the Metropolitan Police in a London Hotel on suspicion of money laundering.
"Mr Dariye and Miss Bentu later jumped bail, escaped to Jos and have since refused to go back to London to answer charges against them in London.
"On Tuesday, December 6, 2005, on Mr Dariye's orders an EFCC operative was manhandled, disarmed and abducted in the premises of KIPC guest house, Jos, when the operatives went to effect the arrest of Mr Wilson Echeje, Branch Manager of Allstates Trust Bank, suspected to be a lynchpin in the alleged money laundering activities of the governor.
The commission spokesman also claimed that two operatives whose names he simply gave us Iliasu and Obinna were lying critically ill at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.
"On Wednesday, December 7, 2005, Mr Dariye himself personally led the assault on the EFCC team, who had gone to execute a search warrant on the premises of his younger brother, Haruna Dariye. The EFCC team was disarmed by the governor's security detail, thoroughly beaten and had their vehicle smashed. The melee facilitated the escape of suspects and destruction of evidence.
"While most members of the EFCC team escaped bloodied (seriously injured) from the scene, the governor again abducted another member of the team. As at the time of issuing this statement, the whereabouts of the abducted EFCC staff are unknown.
"EFCC wishes to state that whereas immunity from prosecution while in office may have been granted Governor Joshua Dariye by the constitution, the Executive Governor of Plateau State is not immune from investigation. And his alleged collaborators are not protected from investigation, arrest and prosecution.
"Governor Dariye is hereby advised not to take laws into his hands by obstructing legitimate law enforcement activities of EFCC. Of immediate concern to the commission however, are the whereabouts, safety and health of its staff, who have not been seen or heard from, since their abduction on the orders of Governor Dariye.
"EFCC, the families, relatives and colleagues of these abducted staff will hold Mr Joshua Dariye personally liable if anything happens to them while being held captive in unknown location. We therefore urge the governor to immediately release them and stop further harassment of EFCC staff on legitimate law enforcement activities in Plateau State.
"The commission wishes to restate that personal attacks, blackmail and political propaganda schemes will not prevent EFCC from investigating anyone, arresting and/or charging him/her to court, if it is established that such a person has a case to answer. The commission is watching to see how the unsavoury events unfold in Jos."
The Plateau State Government has described the recent arrests by the EFCC of its officials as a desperate move to use the apparatus of the Federal Government to threaten and frighten selected public officers in order to intimidate the Governor.
A statement signed by the secretary to the state government, Mr Litta Shundai stated that though the state government does not intend to question or stop the EFCC in its pursuit of legitimate responsibilities, it will, however, not hesitate to resist the use of the Federal agency for settling political scores and differences.