The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified that
it was not investigating the accounts, appropriation and administration
of funds of Benue State government.
The commission explained that it was only probing some officials who
were accused of diversion of public funds, money laundering and related
offences.
EFCC made the explanation on Monday in its response to a suit filed
by the Benue State Government through the Attorney General, Michael
Gusa.
Defendants in the suit are the EFCC, the Speaker, Benue State House
of Assembly, the Clerk, Benue State House of Assembly and the Auditor
General, Benue State.
The anti-graft agency, in its counter-affidavit to the plaintiff’s
originating summons, stated that its was acting on petitions from
indigenes of the state, including former Commissioner of Police,
Abubakar Tsav and Joel Magnus, President of a group, Concerned Citizens
of Benue State Transparency Anti-Corruption Group, Gboko.
The EFCC said: “In carrying out its onerous duties, the 1st
defendant, being a responsible agency of government, has employed the
best practices of extending invitation to concerned State Government
functionaries through high ranking government officials such as
Secretary to the State Government, Permanent Secretaries of relevant
ministries/agencies, Accountant General of the state and Liaison
Officer, Benue State Liaison Office, Abuja without resorting to crude
and uncivilised methods.
“The 1st defendant is not investigating the accounts and/or
appropriation, disbursement and administration of funds of Benue State
Government. The 1st defendant is only investigating economic and
financial crimes, money laundering related offences allegedly committed
by some officials of Benue State Government.
“The ongoing investigation cannot result into a shut down or grinding
to a halt, the activities of governance in Benue State as the 1st
defendant is not an army of occupation. Indeed, the 1st defendant has
not shut down government offices/business as it has been inviting
relevant state government officials to make statements and/or furnish
relevant documents as the need arises.
“The ongoing investigation can only result in restoring the
confidence of citizens of Benue State, who are calling for
accountability, transparency and probity in the affairs of government of
their state. It may well be that the outcome of investigation may prove
the allegations as baseless, which is in the interest of the government
of Benue State.
“That contrary to the depositions contained in paragraphs 12 13 of
the affidavit in support of the originating summons, the business of
governance of Benue State has not in any way suffered or been
destabilised consequent upon the ongoing investigation, as relevant
officials only report as the need arises, who report and make statements
and or bring relevant documents in furtherance of investigation.
“That contrary to the depositions contained in paragraphs 21, 22 and
25 of the affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, it is not
true that honouring invitations by relevant Benue State Government
officials in furtherance of ongoing invitation is distracting or causing
inconveniences to the officials invited, who by virtue of their offices
and responsibilities/duties, their statements are crucial to the
investigation, which is very painstaking.
“That contrary to the depositions contained in paragraphs 23 and 24
of the affidavit in support of the originating summons, the statutory
duties of the 1st defendant of investigating criminal allegations are
never in conflict with the constitutional duties of the 4th defendant,
hence there is no usurpation of the official functions of the 4th
defendant, whose constitutional duties are quite distinct and different
from the statutory duties of the 1st defendant”.
Yesterday, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba fixed August 29 for the hearing of
the suit in which the plaintiff is challenging the propriety of EFCC’s
ongoing activities in the state.
- Daily Post
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