The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has described the threats by the state government to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as an act of fear.
Recall that the government, yesterday, threatened to sue the anti-graft agency over an attempt to arrest the cashier of the government house.
The opposition PDP in a statement, wondered why the Kogi government was finding it difficult to offer themselves for what it described as mere interrogation and clarification.
The statement signed by the party‘s Director for Media and Communications, Comrade Dayo Onibiyo, noted that the state government that celebrated winning a World Bank award of fiscal transparency should have no fear whatsoever to appear before the EFCC.
“Having won three (3) level categories in fiscal transparency and accountability; debt sustainability and domestic revenue mobilisation, why run from EFCC, why threaten to go to court?”, the statement asked, while also wondering why a Government with such a “wonderful performance” should not boldly match to answer questions, saying it is also worried like several other indigenes of the state, on why the Government, should feel it’s being hunted by any agency, when it lays claim to openness, sincerity and financial non-recklessness.
“The party also asked the judiciary to stop putting logs in the wheel of justice as an order of injunction, issued since December 2021, is not expected to be perpetual and forever as it appears the matter is being swept under the carpet, for whatever reason(s), reminding them that, the fund in question, belongs to the good people of Kogi state, issued in their title and for which the state was expected to benefit from as bailout.
The party also asked Kogi state Government to furnish indigenes of the state with details of the whereabout of the confiscated twenty billion naira (N20b) that was orphaned late last year.
“We also seek to know, if the fund had returned to the coffer of the state or still as ordered by the court, recalling that the management of Sterling Bank Plc, where account No 0073572696 is domiciled, has pursuant to a letter dated 21st September, 2021, signed by its Managing Director indicated intention to return the total sum of N19,333,333,333.36 back to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The party therefore, repeats it’s passionate appeal to Kogi sons and daughters, home and abroad to ensure that, the APC is booted out of the state in the forthcoming general election in 2023, if the state and indeed the good people of Kogi must enjoy new lease of life.”
