THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday told an Abuja High Court that the moves by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello to judicially circumvent her trial over the N300 million scandal in the Ministry of Health would lead to a state of lawlessness where every suspect would be exploring the same method to avoid criminal trials.
It subsequently asked the court to reject an application brought by the senator seeking to stop her arrest and arraignment, until the court pronounces on the propriety of the charge brought against her by the commission.
In the EFCC�s response to Iyabo�s argument, a brief of argument on the charge, EFCC�s prosecutor, James Binang, said granting the suspect�s request would turn her to an outlaw and create a state of general breakdown of law and order.
According to EFCC, �if the current trend of rushing to court for injunctive orders restraining criminal prosecution by some powerful individuals is not quickly halted by this Honourable Court, then Nigeria shall soon be witnessing a situation where armed robbery and murder suspects will obtain orders to restrain the police from arresting, investigating and prosecuting them.
�After all, they too are entitled to secure the enforcement of their fundamental rights under the rule of law,� the EFCC said.
The commission agreed that citizens were entitled to their rights under the law, but added that such rights were not absolute; adding that if there was a reasonable suspicion that a person had committed an offence, his liberty might be tampered with.
�It is in the interest of justice that the 12th Accused person (Obasanjo-Bello) be ordered to submit herself properly to the criminal jurisdiction of this court before consideration is given to any application to quash the charge,� the commission added.