Governor Wike accuses EFCC of Political Witch hunt and media trial

…Vows not to submit govt officials to EFCC probe until subsisting Court judgements are vacated

By Ibrahim Bakare

Rivers State Government has vowed not to submit any of its officials to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for any investigations bordering on corruption allegations.

In a press Statement signed by Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner for Information and Communications, accuses EFCC of Media Trial.
The State Government alleged that “The latest attempt contained in the edition( May 24, 2020)of The Nation Newspaper alleged that the State Government has refused to release top officials for interrogation in connection to the withdrawal of N118 billion in cash between 2015 and 2018.

“We have repeatedly said that the State Government will not release its officials to the EFCC for investigations until the commission approaches the Court to set aside Subsisting Orders of perpetual injunction granted by various Courts of Competent jurisdiction restraining the EFCC from investigating or inquiring into the Financial transactions of the Rivers State Government including its Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“In view of these Subsisting Judgements, It would amount to an act of brazen illegality for the EFCC to insist on interrogating any official of the Rivers State Government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no official of the Rivers State Government would appear before the EFCC until the subsisting judgments in favour of the Rivers State Government are set aside on appeal.

“Resorting to the Media can only be described as cheap blackmail and witch-hunt to turn away public attention from the development strides in the State.

“This media trial that they engage in all the time will not take the place of our extant laws no matter how hard they try.

The statement advised EFCC to stop playing to the gallery and pursue its war against corruption within the ambits of the law, adding that the Rivers State Government is committed to the Rule of Law and cannot be intimidated by the EFCC.

The State Government advised “Those who want to use the EFCC to promote their political agenda in the State will fail because we know their antics.

Targeting Rivers State for this occasional media trial should be seen by the public for what it is, “political witch-hunt.”

It would be recalled that at twilight of administration of former Governor Dr Peter Odili there were attempts by EFCC to probe him. He went to court and obtained a perpetual injunction against EFCC. The Commission is said not to have been able to untie the legal encumbrances or vacate the Injunctions.