The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied news that its operatives have raided the Abuja residence of the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen and are lying in wait to arrest him, or have, indeed, arrested him.
While the news is that the operatives of the anti-graft agency stormed the CJN’s residence in connection with the petition of assets declaration infractions that have been tabled before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, the EFCC, in a statement, Tuesday, said that the stories are “not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country.”
Meanwhile, the CJN was one of the dignitaries that graced the Wreath Laying ceremony to mark the end of the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations at the National Arcade, Eagle Square, Abuja same Tuesday, 15th Jan 2019.
The full text of the EFCC statement reads:
The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has been drawn to the falsehood which has been spreading on the social media that the EFCC has arrested the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. This is not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country.
For the record, the EFCC never went to the house of the CJN for arrest neither was invitation extended to him.
Several calls and short messages received all point to the fact that the brains behind the fake news had one thing in mind: to act as agent of destabilization. We would not give in to their plots.
One of the architect of the fake news, Femi Fani-Kayode, was quoted as saying “Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late! This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop”. Another arrowhead of the fake news, Yinka Odumakin shared a non-existent video which has gone viral.
We want to assure Nigerians that while we would fight corruption in line with the mandate setting up the Commission, agents of darkness, in the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and his cohorts, would never be able to manipulate the people against the Commission.
We also want to assure Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and other purveyors of the evil news to be ready to defend their actions in the court of law as the EFCC will file libel suit against them without further delay.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
