The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) says the office of the attorney-general of the federation has
the constitutional power to take over a case at any stage of investigation.
Tony Orilade, spokesman of EFCC,
said this in reaction to withdrawal of the anti-graft agency from the N25
billion “fraud” case of Danjuma Goje, former governor of Gombe state.
The case, which has been on for
close to eight years, was handed over to the office of the AGF on Friday.
When the case came up for an
emergency hearing on Friday, Wahab Shittu, EFCC counsel, told the court that
the agency was withdrawing from the case and handing it over to the office of
the attorney-general.
“My Lord, this case was earlier
adjourned for June 20 for the continuation of hearing, but then we are here
today on the latest development on the matter,” he had said.
“We as EFCC counsels are
withdrawing from the matter and handing it over to the office of the
attorney-general for continuation with the prosecution.”
Orilade defended the action of
the commission saying it is in line with the law.
“By virtue of the existing law,
the office of the attorney- general of the federation has the power to take
over any criminal case at any stage,” he told NAN.
“And that is exactly what has
happened.”
Goje was until Thursday, a
contender for the position of the senate president.
He withdrew from the race and
endorsed Ahmad Lawan, preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The EFCC and the federal
government have been criticised over the handling of Goje’s case.
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