Makinde’s Govt. Confirms Arrest of Accountant General
The Seyi Makinde led administration in Oyo State Government has confirmed the arrest of the state accountant general, Alhaji Gafar Bello by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, February 25th, 2022.
In a statement issued on behalf of the state government by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunnlsun described the arrest as a desperate attempt at thwarting a constitutional process that had been instituted.
It was gathered that the Accountant General was arrested for laundering N9billion for Governor Seyi Makinde.
While neglecting the N9billion allegation, Oyo State Government accused the EFCC of mounting pressure on the state and its officials to provide documents regarding the disbursements and expenditure of contingencies and security votes amongst others.
The state government citing the section 128 (1) and (2) of the Nigerian Constitution stated that the EFCC lacks the power to probe until the Oyo State House of Assembly exposes any corruption.
“The Oyo State House of Assembly has not made any such reports and thus, the actions so far by the EFCC and the EFCC Chairman are unconditional and ultra-vires” Olatunbosun said.
“The Oyo State Government is using this medium to update the good people of Oyo State regarding the arrest, questioning and detention of the Oyo State Accountant General on Friday, February 25, 2022, and subsequent release on Monday, February 28, 2022.
Makinde’s Govt. Confirms Arrest of Accountant General
The continued harassment and intimidation of the Accountant General and other officials of the state government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is totally unconstitutional and unacceptable and is being contested in a court of competent jurisdiction.
The EFCC and its officials have, since last year been mounting pressure on Oyo State and its officials to provide documents regarding disbursements and expenditure of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, Contingencies Fund and Security Vote lawfully approved and passed into Appropriation Law of Oyo State by the Oyo State House of Assembly.
This is despite the fact that the Supreme Court of Nigeria has decided in a long line of cases that the EFCC lacks the powers to prosecute issues that are not corruption cases.”
The commissioner stated that “The Government of Oyo State refuses to be intimidated, cowed or distracted from its one goal of providing good governance. His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, remains committed to fidelity, accountability, integrity, transparency, and honesty which has been the hallmark of this administration since its inception on May 29, 2019, and urges the good people of Oyo State to remain undeterred as this is just another in the series of hurdles that they and indeed all right-thinking Nigerians as a whole must cross in their determination to rescue Nigeria.” Makinde’s Govt. Confirms Arrest of Accountant General