The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned against obstruction of its operations as it would no longer be tolerated.
The warning comes on the heels of the alarm raised by the immediate past Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over alleged illegal invasion of his Albuja residence by operatives of the EFCC.
Bello, in a statement from his media office, lamented that Nigeria was not a lawless country, pointing out that there was a subsisting order of a High Court in Lokoja restraining the commission from arresting him pending the final determination of a suite he filed against the it.
EFCC, Wednesday, reportedly deployed its operatives to Bello’ private house in Abuja with intention to arrest him.
However, the commiseration’s Head Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a press statement Wednesday in Abuja, stated that: “The EFCC wishes to warn members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
“Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
“This warning becomes necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order. Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.
“The commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions.”