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By Daniel Kanu
Former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development in Abia State, and World Bank Consultant, Dr. Philips Nto, has decried what he called frequent harassment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a case that has lasted for nine years.
He therefore asked the commission to charge him to court if it has sufficient evidence to prosecute him, rather than keep inviting him to Abuja towards the end of the year for the past nine years.
Nto was reacting to an invitation sent to him through a text message by EFCC whereby he was given less than a day to report to Abuja to “clear grey areas.”
He noted that even when he requested that he should be given some time to prepare himself, the EFCC officer adamantly refused but instead threatened him with an arrest.
Wondering why a case should be investigated for nine years without conclusion, Nto disclosed that he was ready to defend himself in court over his services to the nation as a commissioner between 2013 and 2015.
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Nto, who was also the Provost, Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu, (ASCETA), however, asked the EFCC to refrain from threatening his life since he had consistently obeyed and complied with their invitations for the past nine years.
“I am a lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. My house is not hidden. I had always responded to their invitation, so I don’t see the urgency in giving me less than a day to travel to Abuja from Umuahia. I have requested that they should give me one week to report to their Enugu office, “he said.
He expressed surprise that a pattern has developed that EFCC invites him usually when Christmas is approaching, saying that it was suspicious.
The former commissioner called on the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyode to call his officers to order so as not to tarnish his image.
According to him, “As a lawyer, the new EFCC chairman should discipline his men to stick to the rule of law in the execution of their lawful duties. The current military style of operation is antithetical to democratic ethos.”
He also called on the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to send for his file to investigate what his offence was and why the EFCC should be dragging him over a case for nine years without charging him to court.
