Suspects arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of fraud in the state running to about N30 billion have described their arrest and detention as politically orchestrated. They said that political differences should not be resolved by undermining other people's rights and integrity.
A Legal Consultant to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Yemi Oke, who was at the commission’s office in Abuja to secure their release after about five days in the custody of the EFCC, said their arrest was illegal and a violation of any known law.
Oke said, “The whole thing is politically orchestrated. This is a wind that blows no one any good. We don’t have to settle political issues this way. You don’t have to undermine peoples’ right, freedom and integrity this way.
“This people were arrested last Monday and they have been in detention since then. They are being released now at exactly 5.45pm. Their arrest and detention is illegal and it is also in violation of every known law.
“More worrisome is the fact that those arrested are not even officers as being reported in some sections of the media. They are clerical staff, cleaners, messengers and casual workers, apart from the cartographer.
“The eldest among them should be about 25 years. I think we have to look into the operations of the EFCC. I think they are doing a good job but the law must be followed and they should not see themselves as being above the law.
“We have had similar cases like that of the Director General of the Bureau of Lands, where court orders were made. Without undermining the establishment of the EFCC, I think something needs to be done about the way they carry out their operations in aligning themselves within the confines of the law.
“I read the petition and the so-called suspect. I also have a copy of the petition written by one Mr. Olawale Coker. The address given in the petition does not exist. The petition is fictitious and all the allegations in it can’t stand in a law court.
There is no mention of N30 billion in the petition. The whole thing is politically orchestrated.
“This is a wind that blows no one any good. We don’t have to settle political issues this way. You don’t have to undermine peoples’ right, freedom and integrity this way. I read almost all the statements written by the suspects and I also followed the line of questioning, nowhere N30 billion was mentioned. Without prejudicing the investigation of the EFCC, there is nowhere it was stated that N30 billion was missing.
“What I can say is that the EFCC I know will not waste time in charging people if they have credible evidence against a suspect. If they are able to lay their hands on credible evidence, they charge the suspect to court without detaining them illegally. The EFCC should resist being used by those who want to score political points.”
The Chief Cartographer of the state, Mrs. Modupeola Akinola, expressed gratitude to God for her release.
She urged the media to always do its investigations thoroughly before publishing, adding, “I want to implore journalists to always do their investigations before going to publish their stories because it was in the papers that those arrested were top Ogun State Government officials.
“I am the only top officials among them. We have cleaners and casual workers among them. Those arrested were between the ages of 20 and 25.”
Another suspect, Ibrahim Oladele, an Internal Auditor with the Bureau of Land and Survey, said he is still disturbed about his arrest.
He also warned the media to be careful about what it writes.
He said, “It really baffles me that we were arrested. The papers have to be very careful about what they publish.
“The papers described us as top government officials but we are not top government officials. Most of us are casual workers. Only two of us are permanent staff.
“Whenever there is an accusation against a person, I expect that our own side of the story should be heard too. I have a reputation to protect. I have roles and responsibilities I perform in Ogun State.”