A veteran journalist, Oluwafisan Bankale has called for the release of Olu Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel who has been detained in the custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja for five days now.
In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday evening, Bankale addressed the public regarding the probe on the Mambilla Power Project by the EFCC. He clarifies that Aguloye is not hiding or on the run, as he voluntarily walked into the EFCC office on December 13th and has been cooperating with them.
He described the declaration of Agunloye being wanted for fraud by the EFCC as uncalled for and emphasized his commitment to integrity. He noted that Agunloye is well-regarded by the public, as evidenced by the lack of celebration over his detention in the media. Bankale therefore appealed for his release and for his case to be treated and adhered to by the Rule of Law.
Below is details of the statement....
Olu Agunloye; neither hiding nor running
At this point in time, I am overawed by the impulse to weigh in, by way of this simple public statement, on Dr. Olu Agunloye as it relates to the probe on the Mambilla Power Project by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It is to achieve two aims.
The one is to inform and reassure people who are worried about the gravity of the alleged offence and his whereabout and the other is to make an appeal to all Nigerians expecially the EFCC.
Towards these ends, I deem it sufficiently important to state that Dr. Olu Agunloye is neither in hiding nor on the run. By himself, Dr Olu Agunloye walked into the office of EFCC on 13 December and he has remained there since then.
I am trusting that this information will, despite, or even probably because of his having being declared wanted, reassure his friends and the general public that he is in custody of the EFCC and cooperating with them.
In his own words, Dr Olu Agunloye had described the declaration by EFCC that he was wanted for fraud 'as uncalled for'.
I know enough to add, for the very few who may not be conversant with him, that Dr. Olu Agunloye is a patriot who is wired to live and work with integrity. He has both virtues in such sufficient quantum, at least, as to not hide or run on this matter, or any, indeed.
Dr. Agunloye's name evokes a pacific aura and a life devoted to high achievement in the public space as befits a thorough intellectual. That point is best driven home by the fact a scan of the media shows that there is no celebration of his detention, an attestation to the way he is beheld by the public. That is gratifying.
Finally, I appeal to those who can, to hasten his release and that in the meantime, he be dealt with in truly professional manner minding the Rule of Law.
Thank you.
Signed
Oluwafisan BANKALE
Former Editor, Defunct Sketch Newspaper;
Fellow Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE); Retired Diplomat.
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17 Dec 2023