Abuja based group, the Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN) has
cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against
allowing itself to be used to settle political scores with the
outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose,
SRLN, in a statement on Monday and signed by its National
Co-coordinator, Dr Chima Ubeku, said the anti-graft commission will
have no excuse to keep Governor Fayose in its custody for more than 12
hours when he submits himself tomorrow.
The group, which described as laughable the report of EFCC placing the
governor on surveillance, said a man who by himself volunteered to be
at the commission’s Abuja office tomorrow and was in an event in Abuja
that was transmitted live on television yesterday has shown enough
reasons to be trusted and it is important for the EFCC to do less of
its usual media hype this time around.
The SRLN said having been on the matter for over two years and had
given the impression that it had watertight evidences of financial
crimes against the governor, the EFCC should have by now prepared
whatever charges it has against Governor Fayose and should be ready to
take him to court immediately.
This is not a case in which EFCC will have the luxury of keeping an
accused in its custody for weeks under the excuse of interrogation. In
fact, the EFCC does not even need to interrogate Governor Fayose
because the commission has shown to the public that it has enough
evidence against him.
If by Wednesday, Governor Fayose is not charged to court, it will mean
that EFCC is only out to persecute him because in saner climes,
investigations on financial crimes are concluded before inviting
accused.
While saying that the governor must submit himself to the EFCC
tomorrow as promised, the group noted that any attempt to do otherwise
will put a permanent question mark to his reputation.
Until tomorrow, we give the governor benefit of doubt that he will
fulfill his promise and EFCC must be mindful of doing anything
untoward from midnight till the end of tomorrow.
