The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has denied allegations that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Solicitor General of the Federation met with some governors before defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The reaction follows charges made by Mr Paul Ibe, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s spokesperson, in a recent interview with a national television network.
Ibe claimed that both the EFCC chairman and the solicitor general met with a former and current governor from the South-South area 48 hours before defecting to the APC.
Though Ibe did not name names, the AGF’s Office called the implication “contemptuous” and “false” and urged the public to disregard it.
Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity in the AGF’s Office, stated in a statement on Friday that the claim was “from the pit of hell”.
“We wish to state categorically that the allegation is from the pit of hell and, at best, a figment of the imagination of Mr Ibe,” the statement read.
Ogundele further argued that “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.”
He emphasised that the statement made by Ibe was an attempt to discredit the anti-corruption drive of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“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,” he said.
The Office of the AGF reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and pursuing justice without political interference.
“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,” Ogundele added.
