The Federal Government has said that defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) would not stop it from pursuing corruption cases against governors and other political office holders.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja on Friday.
Fagbemi said the President Bola Tinubu’s administration would continue to uphold the rule of law and would not falter in the fight against corruption, no matter whose ox is gored.
He said this while refuting a claim by an aide to a former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.
The AGF stated that there was no truth in the allegation by Atiku’s aide, Paul Ibe, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, met a former and incumbent governor of a South-South state, 48 hours to their defection to the ruling APC.
The AGF stated further that his attention was drawn to the claim which Atiku’s aide made during an interview he granted on a national television.
Fagbemi, while describing the allegation as contemptuous, emphasized that though Ibe failed to mention the names of the defectors, the discerning members of the public know those he could have been referring to.
The statement said: However, we wish to state categorically that the allegation is from the pit of hell, and at best, a figment of imagination of Mr Ibe.
“We know as a fact that the EFCC chairman and the Solicitor General of the Federation never met any serving or former governor as alleged by him.
“We appeal to the members of the public to disregard the insinuation as it was a feeble attempt to discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration’s fight against corruption.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will continue to uphold the rule of law and will not falter in the fight against corruption no matter whose ox is gored.”
