Edo lawmakers protest detention of principal officers by EFCC

The detention of three members of the Edo state house of assembly by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has aggravated the political tension in the state.

On Thursday, APC lawmakers in the state had confirmed that Uyi Igbe, the speaker; Philip Shaibu, the majority leader; and Folly Ogedengbe, the chief whip, were arrested and detained by the EFCC in Abuja for alleged forgery of signature.

Their detention resulted in a protest, led by Kabiru Adjoto, chairman, Edo state house of assembly committee on information, in Benin.

Adjoto, who addressed journalists at the legislative quarters, Ihama Road, Benin city, said their colleagues were being detained in inhumane conditions and were denied access to their doctors to administer treatments on them on the injuries they sustained in the attack on the legislative quarters last Saturday.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the speaker, Edo state house of assembly, Uyi Igbe, the majority leader, Philip Shaibu and the chief whip, Folly Ogedengbe.

“They were arrested on October 15 and as we speak, they are being kept under inhumane conditions in Abuja.

“You are all aware that last week, there was a very vicious attack on the legislators right here in our quarters, Honourable Philip Shaibu was seriously injured, also suffering bullet wounds, the speaker was wounded, the chief whip’s house was attacked, three of them were seriously injured. The EFCC arrested them not minding their health conditions and the information before us this morning is that the speaker collapsed twice; Philip is bleeding profusely and they are being denied medical attention.”

Adjoto said the legislators were shocked that their colleagues would be arrested by the EFCC instead of the police over allegation of forgery. He said their arrest and detention was politically motivated and that they were also informed that other lawmakers belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would soon be arrested too.

“We equally got information that they are coming for the remaining 12 lawmakers; we are waiting for them but one thing is very clear, whatever evil is done by man to man will certainly be redressed. The president should clear his name from this mess because every officer we have called from the commission said the directive is from above.

“When has EFCC become an agency to investigate forgery of signature and when has forgery of signature become a financial crime? Impeachment of either speaker or deputy speaker is purely an internal affair of the Edo state house of assembly. EFCC has no business whatsoever to do with this.

“We are surprised that EFCC can reduce itself to investigating a crime that has already been spelt out, it is a criminal matter and penalty is set out in the criminal code. The EFCC is not set up to investigate forgery of signature and reducing itself into this is most unfortunate.

“The most worrisome is that the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian armed forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is aware and has given directive that these three principal officers of Edo state house of assembly be charged to court and remanded indefinitely; that is giving us serious concern.

“One would expect the Nigerian police to investigate the offence of forgery they are alleging and if found guilty, they charge them to court. So, what has EFCC got to do with forgery of signature?”

Adjoto also lamented that EFCC, which has failed to investigate other allegations such as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s alarm about allegedly missing $20bn from the nation’s treasury, would reduce itself to investigating impeachment proceedings in Edo state house of assembly.

“Also, we are aware of the billions of dollars that were pumped into the power sector and some persons have embezzled the money, but the EFCC has not investigated that.

“A private jet was caught in South Africa with over $9.3 million twice; the EFCC has not deemed it fit to investigate. The eight years of misrule of PDP in Edo state, the EFCC has not investigated.

“Therefore, it is rather unfortunate that the EFCC has reduced itself into investigating impeachment proceedings in Edo state house of assembly, Edo people will not keep quiet.”