‘You swore to uphold constitution’ — CSO carpets Ododo over alleged obstruction of Yahaya Bello’s arrest
Oyeniyi lamented that the drama that has surrounded the attempt to arrest the former governor of Kogi has been "nauseating and demoralising".
The Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCP), a civil society organisation (CSO), says the alleged obstruction of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, by Usman Ododo will have legal consequences.
Speaking at press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Akinloye Oyeniyi, the executive director of the group, said the “the alleged obstructive actions and antics of the governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Usman Ododo, is seriously becoming glaring”.
“We want the governor to be aware that such action is viewed as repugnant and unbecoming of a state governor who swore to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic and also pledge his allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Oyeniyi said.
“The effrontery and audacity against the Constitution of Nigeria, being displayed has never happened in the history of Nigeria and was hitherto unthought of.
“We have formally written to the Nigeria’s Governors Forum, the Progressives Governors Forum and the Presidency (see the letter attached), to weigh-in and have this matter resolved on the side of Nigerian people.
“We hope that advisers of Governor Ododo, just like we are now doing, will be able to tell him that what he has done so far is an obstruction of the EFCC in the performance of its statutory duties, with legal consequences now or in the future.”
Oyeniyi lamented that the drama that has surrounded the attempt to arrest the former governor of Kogi has been “nauseating and demoralising”.
He added that the development has also made Nigeria a laughingstock in the international community.
“The nation is now viewed as a country where certain people of high political status are above the laws of the land.
“If we may ask, where is the touted synergy among the security apparatus of the nation state? What happened to the pledge by each and every member of the security and law enforcement agencies to uphold the laws of the land, regardless of whose ox is gored, and without fear or favour.
“It is a shame of the nation that the EFCC continues to bemoan lack of cooperation in its efforts to arrest the former governor, who is being shielded by his kinsman and successor in office, His Excellency, Alhaji Usman Ododo, Governor of Kogi State.
“What is expected in a virile nation would have been that security agents around Governor Ododo would have been instructed by their respective commands to help both Yahaya Bello and the EFCC or the Court to access justice, especially when a court of the land had issued a valid and subsisting warrant of arrest on the former governor.
“Is it not a huge joke that the court issued a bench warrant on Yahaya Bello and the EFCC, a statutory federal agency, is till now still seeking for his arrest while he is being protected by federal security agents provided for Governor Usman Ododo by the Federal Government?”
