- By Halimah Olamide
Human rights lawyer and professor, Chidi Odikanlu and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have have been exchanging words over the arrest and arraignment of cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, popularly called Bobrisky.
Odikanlu had earlier accused the commission of being shameless and idle with its concern over Bobrisky while he said there are more germane issues to be dealt with. Odikanlu had posted on his X handle “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.” In its response.
EFCC had threatened legal action against the lawyer saying it has taken notice of its criticism of its arrest and prosecution of Bobrisky.
The Commission, in a statement by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Odikanlu’s statement was reckless.
The commission said, “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.
After EFCC’s statement, Odikanlu has gone ahead to say that he remains unfazed by the commission’s threat saying EFCC’s statement confirmed his allegation that the commission is idle. He wrote again, “I said the
@officialEFCC
were shameless, idle & involved in manifest #AbuseOfPower. They promptly prove me right!”