The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has responded to comments by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed about the Anti-graft Agency being used by political opponents, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to persecute him and his aides.
The EFCC which reacted in a Statement signed by its Head Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale says the claims by the Bauchi Governor are as wild as they are far- fetched, advising that public accountability should be the priority of politicians of all persuasions.
The Commission says it is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to be quick to scream persecution each time an opposition figure is called to account but are mute when a member of the ruling party faces the same ordeal.
The EFCC says it is non- partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will and the attempt to portray it as a pliable Agency that panders to the demands of certain political interests is therefore mischievous and condemnable.
The EFCC stresses that it is derogatory for the Bauchi Governor to ascribe the Commission’s activities in Bauchi State to the Influence of the FCT Minister, Nyesome Wike as it emphasises that no political office holder is in a position to influence the investigative activities of the Commission and if the Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed wants to be honest, he would have revealed to Nigerians that he was standing trial for money laundering at the time he won Election as Governor of the State.
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The EFCC explained that the constitutional Immunity from prosecution, which the Bauchi Governor current office attracts has put the case in abeyance and after all, no one influenced the Commission to investigate Bala Mohammed in 2016 and charge him to court.
The EFCC further explains that the facts against some officials of Bauchi State Government are already placed before the court and members of the public can access the charges and decide whether the case is borne out of vendetta or is a product of painstaking investigation by the Commission’.
The Anti-graft Agency says crying wolf over issues of terrorism financing is like clutching at straws as it did not invent the law and where there are offences punishable by extant laws, EFCC will be failing in its responsibility to do otherwise. It advised Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed to face the governance of the State and allow the EFCC focus more on cleaning the financial space of the Nation in line with its assigned mandate.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
