We Will No Longer Tolerate Obstruction Of Our Operations –EFCC

By Daniel Dafe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has warned members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

The anti-graft agency in a statement on Wednesday signed by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity, said this after attempts to arrest former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in Abuja on Wednesday to be arraigned on Thursday for alleged fraud, met resistance.

According to the statement, Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties, adding: “Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.”

“This warning becomes necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC,” the statememt said.

Continuing, EFCC, said that “on several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order. Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.”

ALSO READ: Ohanaeze Ndigbo To Honour Former Anambra Governor, Ezeife, With Posthumous Award

“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions,” the statement concluded.