We are open to lawful investigations – Kogi Govt to EFCC

***Say,we have nothing to hide

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

KOGI State Government has reiterated her stance on Accountability, Transparency and Probity insisting that it has nothing to hide and will always open her books to lawful investigations.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications Mr Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Lokoja

Fanwo confirmed that two officials of the state government, Dr Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu had submitted themselves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and were currently at the Headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.

According to the Commissioner, the duo of Oricha and Hudu decided to voluntarily report at the headquarters of the commission in spite of the fact that they are yet to receive official invitation.

From all indications, their trip to the Anti-graft Agency headquarters may not be unconnected with the Federal High Court, Abuja, order of arrest on them over allegations of suspicious financial transactions.

The media report had it that Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order last Tuesday in his ruling on a motion ex-parte filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/909/2024.

Fanwo said, “We have not been told the specific details about the allegations against them, but it may not be unconnected to the ongoing investigations regarding some present and former Government officials.

“The officials reported as law abiding citizens of Nigeria to further demonstrate that the Government of Kogi State has nothing to hide and will always open her books to lawful investigations.”

The Commissioner expressed the hope that the EFCC would respond to the “patriotic” action of the two officials by remaining professional in conducting their investigations.

“As a Government, we are always prepared to cooperate with anti-graft agencies to prove our transparency and retain the confidence of our development partners who have consistently given us awards in recognition of our unflinching transparency, accountability and probity”, he said. (Ends)