The Federal Government issued a stern warning on Friday that governors and other public officials facing corruption charges cannot evade justice by defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released through his media aide, Mr Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), emphasised the Tinubu administration’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts.
The government will not relent in its fight against corruption, regardless of political affiliations, Fagbemi stated.
The AGF’s remarks came in response to allegations made by Mr Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. Ibe had claimed during a television interview that the EFCC and Solicitor-General of the Federation held meetings with a former and current South-South state governor shortly before their defection to the APC.
Fagbemi categorically denied these claims, saying there is absolutely no truth to the allegations. The Federal Government maintains strict protocols in all corruption cases and does not engage in such negotiations.
The Minister reaffirmed that all ongoing corruption cases would proceed without political interference, noting that the administration’s anti-corruption stance remains consistent regardless of defendants’ political alignments.
Describing the allegation as contemptuous, the AGF stressed that though Mr. Ibe failed to mention the names of the defectors, “the discerning members of the public know those he could have been referring to,” he added.
“However, we wish to state categorically that the allegation is from the pit of hell, and at best, a figment of imagination of Mr Ibe.
“We know as a fact that the EFCC chairman and the Solicitor General of the Federation never met any serving or former governor as alleged by him.
“We appeal to the members of the public to disregard the insinuation as it was a feeble attempt to discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration’s fight against corruption.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will continue to uphold the rule of law and will not falter in the fight against corruption no matter whose ox is gored,” the statement read.
Likewise, the EFCC, in a separate statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Dele Oyewale, maintained that Ibe’s claims that its Chairman, Ola Olukayode, held a secret meeting with an unnamed politician, was unfounded.
The anti-graft agency noted that Atiku’s aide had on May 22, during the television interview, “bared his mind on sundry theories, conjectures and assumptions relating to opposition politics and defections.”
It said the allegation that its Chairman and the Solicitor General of the Federation met with the said governor befire his defection to the APC, was “patently fabricated and in bad taste.”
“Olukoyede has stressed it at several fora that he is apolitical and the EFCC totally wired against partisan tendencies.
“The public is enjoined to disregard the alleged meeting with the unnamed Governor as it only exists in the imagination of Ibe,” EFCC’s statement further read.
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