The National Coordinator of a noble group, “Like Minds Alliance Pressure Group”, Chief Richard Asaje has urged the EFCC to be diligent and conscientious in the prosecution of its cases, stating that FGYB appearance in court was a sign of his commitment to stand trial.
According to the Elder Statesman, the EFCC has the rules of court to expedite trial of Economic and Financial Crimes, but it must not allow extraneous factors influence or pressure to affect the performance of its statutory duties.
Speaking further, he said that the EFCC should be more patient and meticulous in their approach to fighting anti-corruption cases.
“lntimidation and blackmail can’t rubbish FGYB legacies and it will not upturn the will of God”, he added..
Continuing he said, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede statement that he is personally interested in FGYB’s arrest and prosecution to the extent of vowing to resign from his job failure to do so keep bothering in the minds of public intellectuals. The EFCC must be more professional and diligent in prosecution of its cases and not to be biased for reasons best known to them.
“Of recent, the public were made to know that politics, ethnicity and some people in the corridor of powers were behind it as political vendetta. Forgetting that FGYB is a strong member of the APC party, and donated his campaign office to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.. , mobilized the North Central votes for the incumbent president.
“Could it be that FGYB contested as one of the 2023 presidential primary candidates from a major minority tribes of Nigeria? Or just because he was able to unite the already disenchanted various tribes in kogi state for a sense of belonging?”
Chief Asaje expressed worries over the state of FGYB and how the case is being handled by the EFCC operatives, stating that nothing should happen to the former governor whom he said honoured the EFCC.
It is surprising that a man who came to the EFCC office himself, detained, arranged before the court was on Friday 29/11/2024 denied access to his lawyers.The development is very dangerous and we must condemn it.Why seeking FGYB trial in absentia?
A court can never demonstrate helplessness.. That would be an indication of anarchy and society is based on the rule of law.. Lobbying the court to demonstrate helplessness will negate the basis of the rule of law…
We are not saying political leaders/former governor’s should not be called to account but it should be devoid of political sentiments..Anti-graft agencies should carry out their responsibilities of purging our sphere of crimes by ensuring it is not different strokes for different folks.
Before now,we all know what happened to some former governor’s i.e former Governor Matawalle, former Governor Badaru ,Gandollars, the charge against Mr Fani kayode to mention just a few..It showed that not much was done by the anti-graft agency..FGYB issue should be treated with diligent.
An accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty..FGYB is facing trial on 19 -count charges, so many charges against one person, one we assume that perhaps the prosecution is playing games or gambling.. This is even ridiculous when the kogi state government has not said that money was missing.
The EFCC needs to carry out thorough investigation and painstaking, diligent and conscientious prosecution pf its cases… The EFCC should be a neutral independent body that investigate financial crimes.
We believe in the judiciary, the EFCC action against FGYB can be seen as a demonstration of biased approach to tackling corruption… Nothing must happen to FGYB while still in the EFCC custody.
The EFCC agency must not be driven by personal and political motives rather than a genuine fight against corruption.
Signed
Secretary, “Like Minds Alliance Pressure Group
