The Ekiti state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of “executive rascality”, saying the agency is acting “as if Nigeria is now back to 1984 when Buhari was a military dictator”.
The governor condemned the continued detention of Warimopei Dudafa, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and the siege to the home of Femi Fani-Kayode, former director of publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign.
Fayose said the EFCC must understand that the nation is currently running a democratic system in which rule of law is sacrosanct.
“The EFCC under President Muhammadu Buhari is acting as if it is above the law and Nigerians and the international community must remind the commission that we are in a democracy where rule of law is sacrosanct,” read a statement issued on Fayose’s behalf by Lere Olayinka, his special assistant on public communications and new media.
“The EFCC must be reminded of the judgement delivered in March, this year by Justice Yusuf Haliru of the Federal High Court in Nicholas Arinse Vs EFCC & Nigerian Army where the judge held that the EFCC did not behave as if we were in a civilised society and that the anti-graft commission was behaving as if we were in a military dictatorship, where they arrest and release person at will.
“In the case of the former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Jonathan, no one is saying those suspected of corrupt practices should not be investigated and tried, but it is wrong for Warimopei Dudafa to have been kept in EFCC custody for over two weeks without trial.
“Also, it is a demonstration of barbarism for the same EFCC that invited Fani-Kayode to its office on Monday to have invaded his house yesterday, holding the occupants hostage for eight hours when there is no evidence that Fani-Kayode refused to honour EFCC invitation.
“Why the show of barbarism by the EFCC as if Nigeria is now back to 1984 when Buhari was a military dictator?”