The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a warning stating that obstructing its officers from carrying out their lawful duties is a criminal offence.
The warning comes after Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, interfered when EFCC operatives laid siege to his predecessor Yahaya Bello's home on Wednesday, April 17. The EFCC operatives had restricted movement in and around Bello’s house on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence and whisked him away, despite the ongoing EFCC operation. The anti-graft agency had named Bello in an amended money laundering charge filed against Alli Bello, chief of staff to the incumbent governor of Kogi.
In a statement, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the EFCC, emphasized the increasing tendency of persons and groups under investigation to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC by recruiting thugs. Oyewale cited Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act, which makes it an offence to prevent EFCC officers from carrying out their duties, punishable by a jail term of not less than five years.
The EFCC stated that it had exercised restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order but warned that it will not tolerate any attempt to obstruct its operations in the future, and such attempts will be met with appropriate punitive actions.
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