Odinkalu said the power of arrest and prosecution is a public trust that should not be weaponised by the EFCC.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, to be mindful of his comments after he criticised the agency for arresting crossdresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky.
The crossdresser was arrested for spraying of the naira and naira mutilation. He pleaded guilty on his arraignment on Friday before a Lagos court. He will be sentenced on April 9.
Reacting to Bobrisky’s ordeal, Odinkalu wrote on X that the power of arrest and prosecution is a public trust that should not be weaponised to prosecute those the EFCC do not like.
He wrote, “The @officialEFCC shd be ashamed of themselves. The power of arrest & prosecution is a public trust that shd not be weaponized for the persecution of those whom they don’t like. It is either @officialEFCC is evidently idle or this is clear #AbuseOfPower.
“Ystday, @NigeriaGov & @NERCNG hiked energy beyond the reach of most #Nigerians. Today, @officialEFCC orchestrates a lynching of #Bobrisky.
“Ppl who can no longer afford electricity are hailing them because, apparently Bobby is responsible for their poverty. Bobrisky is responsible for rigging ur elections; corrupting ur courts; looting ur Treasury; sending the Naira sky-high; recruiting & paying #BokoHaram & the bandits. He must be the problem with #Nigeria.”
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However, EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, threatened in a statement that the agency would take legal action next time against anyone commenting against its lawful mandate.
The statement titled, “Chidi Odinkalu’s Reckless Commentaries on EFCC” reads: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to some reckless commentaries made by a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu on the arrest of Idris Okuneye(a.k.a Bobrisky) by the Commission, describing it as evidence of idleness or an abuse of power .
“The Commission views such commentaries from Odinkalu as unbecoming of a former head of a major government agency. Okuneye was arrested and arraigned by the Commission on the basis of clear cases of abuse of the Naira to which he has pleaded guilty.
“Odinkalu has a right to free speech as a Nigerian but such a right should be exercised with decorum and responsibility. The Commission would not hesitate to take appropriate legal actions against such uncouth commentaries against its lawful mandate by anyone.
“Odinkalu is warned and advised to ventilate his rascally opinions more responsibly in future situations.”
