By Shola Abayomi.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why the commission withdrew from its 8-year-long prosecution of former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje over his N25 billion indictment.
According to the spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Tony Orilade, the Attorney-General of the Federation exercised his constitutional power to take over any criminal case at any stage of investigation, “and that is exactly what has happened”, he said.
Section 174 (1a) of the 1999 Constitution states that the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have the power “To institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National Assembly.”
Recall that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation took over the case on Friday, less than 24 hours after Senator Goje stepped down from the race for the Senate Presidency and declared support for Senator Ahmed Lawan after a crucial meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.