Posted by Femi Makinde on
Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Solomon Lar, has described the freezing of the accounts of the Plateau State Government, at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as an illegal act.
Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Solomon Lar, has described the freezing of the accounts of the Plateau State Government, at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as an illegal act.
The EFCC, relying on a ruling by a Federal High Court in Lagos, which heard an ex-parte motion the commission filed, had written the state government to notify it of the court's decision.
Speaking with our correspondent in a telephone interview on Thursday, Lar flayed the EFCC's action and asked the Federal Government to call its Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to order.
Lar said, 'I am embarrased; I can't believe my eyes. The EFCC is doing something that is definitely not constitutional. We are practising a federal system, I can't imagine that an agency of the Federal Government can examine the account of a state, only the Public Account Committee of the state can do so.
'A Federal High Court in Jos ruled last year that it's illegal for it (EFCC) to obtain judgement elsewhere is an abuse of court process."
He added that the EFCC's action was in conflict with the provision of the constitution and Ribadu should be called to order.
Reacting to the purpoted removal of Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja as the governor of Oyo State, Lar described it as shameful.
'What is happening is a pity. I congratulate the Senior Advocates and all progressives defending Ladoja's mandate," he said.
He also commended an Ibadan High Court 'for voiding the so-called impeachement."
He added that the Acting Chief Judge of Oyo State should be disciplined to serve as a deterrent to others.
The PUNCH, Friday, January 20, 2006