APC Group Urges President Tinubu To Call EFCC Boss, Olukayode To Order

By Akinwale Kasali

Olanipekun Olukayode, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has come under criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Support Group, the  National Progressives Hub.

The Group petitioned President Bola Tinubu over what it described as the “unprofessional, shameful and unethical” operations of the Commission.

The Group said the violent action of the Commission during the invasion of Kogi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja in a botched attempt to arrest the former governor, Yahaya Bello who had earlier presented himself to the anti-graft agency but was turned back by its officials was unprofessional.

The National Coordinator of the Hub, Hon. Bukkie Okangbe in a statement in Abuja said state actors and agencies are expected to carry out their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the laws of the land.

She said; “As a group of individuals who believe in the rule of law and the sanctity of the constitution, we know that while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC as an agency of government has a responsibility to discharge its duties, we also believe that such responsibility must be carried out within the ambit of the law. Our laws respect the dignity of every citizen and any agency behaving contrary to this must be called to order. There are anti crime agencies all over the world and they have not been seen misusing and abusing powers like the EFCC has continued to do.

“It is on record that the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was at the EFCC office in Abuja on Tuesday 17th September, 2024 to honour the agency’s call for interrogation. While the agency could have used the opportunity to ask the former governor any necessary questions of their choice for clarification, he was simply asked to go home only for the men of the agency to go later in the night to carry out an unlawful operation capable of throwing the nation into another security uproar.

“The action of the EFCC is not only shameful and unnecessary but totally unprofessional and unethical especially when the former Governor had made himself available to them earlier.

“This act clearly shows that the agency has nothing substantial or evidence-based against the former governor regarding its claim of corruption. All that EFCC is doing is a mere media trial just to gain public sympathy and portray itself as an agency working for the conscience of the nation. We reject and condemn this act of recklessness by the EFCC and wish this doesn’t repeat itself to any individual whatsoever.

“Having seen overtime such abuse of power and reckless invasion by the EFCC especially on prominent and respected personalities in the country, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the leadership of the agency to order and not allow the personal and selfish interest of the leaders of the agency to tarnish and rubbish the good image of his Renewed Hope Administration.

“We use the occasion of this press release to reiterate our support and commitment to the Renewed Hope Administration of the Federal Government and thus, call on the EFCC to support the administration and not incite the people against the Government through their unprofessional approach to issues”, she added.