Wike Threatens To Sue EFCC Over Governorship Candidate; Says “You Cannot Threaten Us”

By Adesina Soyooye

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for contempt of Court.

Speaking on Friday at the swearing-in ceremony of three new members of his Cabinet members, including the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Zaccheaus Adangor, Wike ordered Adangor to write a letter of protest to the EFCC over the “harassment” of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Governorship candidate, Siminalaye Fubara.

Fubara, was the Accountant General of the State before he resigned to contest in the Governorship Primary. As the anointed candidate of the Governor, it was easy for him to win. But before then, the EFCC had declared Fubara and a couple of other Rivers State officials wanted over an alleged sum of over N400 billion.

The Governor described the EFCC action as an intimidation, and said nobody would tolerate such from the EFCC again.

He said the Rivers State Government has a subsisting Court Order, which prevents the Commission from investigating the finances of the State or its officers.

In addition to that, Wike explained that Fubara has a judgement against the graft Commission on the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

He reminded the EFCC that this was no longer the time for “impunity and flagrant disobedience to the rule of law.” That time, he said, is gone.

Wike: “Rivers State Government had judgment against EFCC since 2007. The court said the EFCC has no business in the financial transactions of the (Rivers) State.

“EFCC has been struggling to set aside that judgement uptil now. They have not even appealed it.”

The Governor warned against the use of the EFCC as a political weapon against political opponents.

Wike:  “We are in a political period. People should not think that they will use EFCC to intimidate or manipulate him (Fubara). Nobody will accept that. So you,  Attorney General, have to attach the judgment of the candidate against EFCC and send the right signal to them that we are not people that can be cowed.”

Since Fubara was declared wanted, he has not been seen in public, as such. The question is: if the EFCC continues its harassment of Fubara, how is he going to campaign?

If he does win, he is likely to be sworn-in somewhere before he comes out, publicly, unless the EFCC lifts its siege on him.