The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, said on Thursday the Supreme Court’s judgment
has put the commission in a stronger position to tackle all forms of corruption
in the country.
Olukoyede, according to a statement issued by the
EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, stated this when a delegation
of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance led by
its Regional Director for Africa and West Asia, Dr. Roba Sharamo visited him at
the commission’s office in Abuja.
The EFCC chairman said after the Supreme Court ruling,
he told the anti-graft agency’s operatives they could now investigate serving
governors but couldn’t prosecute them.
The apex court on November 15 dismissed the suit filed
by 19 state governments challenging the legality of the EFCC.
Olukoyede said: “I want to let you know that we are
more solid now than ever before. You are aware that 19 governors took us to
court. They went to court and the judgment that was given makes us stronger
than ever before. You have to wait until they leave office when they don’t have
immunity anymore.
“So, I have told my men that the ball is in our court,
now. You can investigate even a serving governor. So, go ahead and investigate
their finances and their activities. The only thing you can’t do is prosecute.
“They also warned the people who have been using the
instrumentality of the state to shield themselves from justice to desist from
it. The Supreme Court has spoken, and it has a big impact. We are going out to
work without any further inhibition.”
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