"Leave us alone, we are not answerable to you " - Rivers State Government tells EFCC over N170Billion Scandal

Rivers State Government has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to leave the State alone to concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers State.

This call was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the Commissioner for Information and Communications Barr Emma Okah in reaction to an allegation by the EFCC that she is investigating the State State Government in connection with withdrawals totaling N170Billion from the State Government's account.

According to the statement, Rivers State Government denied any illegal operation of her bank accounts as alleged.

The statement further adds that the Rivers State Government is not answerable to the EFCC until the court says so.

In 2007, the State took the EFCC to court over interferences with the State's finances and the court restrained the EFCC from probing the accounts of Rivers State as the State was accountable only to the State House of Assembly. Curiously the EFCC has not been able to set aside the injunction.

"We plead the injunction and advise the Commission to respect the laws of the land as anything short of this is equal to political blackmail, the statement added.

For the avoidance of doubts, the Rivers State Government is not against the fight against corruption but insists that such fight must be within the ambit of the law and not as a tool of political witch hunt.