By Jane Okafor, Abuja
The Ola Olukoyede – led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has restated that its mandate still remains the tackling of corruption in Nigeria, not opposition politicians or their leaders.
The anti – graft agency added that it also remains unwavering in its commitment to bringing suspects of economic and financial crimes to book.
The EFCC stated this on Monday in an apparent reaction to the country’s key opposition leaders who on Sunday lamented what they described as an increasing threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and their allegation that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was using the anti-graft agencies to intimidate, weaken and obliterate opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Daily Crucible reports that Atiku Abubakar, ex – Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, ex – APC National Chairman and former governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, PDP leader Chief Bode George and others had in a joint statement on Sunday, alleged that state institutions — particularly the EFCC, the Nigeria Police and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) — were being weaponised by the executive arm for systematic persecution of opposition leaders, political intimidation and selective justice rather than genuinely use of same to strengthen anti-corruption efforts.
They also warned that Nigeria was careering towards a de facto one-party state system through subtle pressure on opposition governors and political actors, rather than through transparent and level – playing ground democratic process.
However, in a post shared on its Facebook page, the EFCC stated that it was aware of the frenzy of accusations by some political actors across the country, questioning its operation.
It said that the claims of ” Weaponisation of the EFCC”, ” Erosion of EFCC’s Independence”, ” Persecution of opposition politicians”, ” “Politicisation of EFCC’s operations” and other assumptions contained in a recent media statement by some politicians, were deliberate misrepresentation of the Commission’s task in bringing suspects of economic and financial crimes to book.
It said, “First, the Commission’s weapon is its Establishment Act which provides the ground norm of its activities. The Act mandates the Commission to investigate and prosecute all economic and financial crimes. The only exception to criminal prosecution by the Commission are political officers granted constitutional immunity during their tenure. Suspects of corrupt practices from the ruling party, opposition party and non- partisan actors have no immunity and are being equally investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC.
“A check list of arrests and prosecution by the Commission in the last two years under the current leadership shows that strong members of the ruling party such as former governors, ministers and others not publicly known are sharing tables with a motley number of opposition politicians as well and others.
“The truth about the EFCC is that it is only faithful to its mandate and nothing else. This mandate is about tackling corruption and not any imaginary adversary or political motive The Commission finds insinuation made by opposition politicians that “there is a discernible pattern of persecution of the opposition by the EFCC with the sole objective of weakening same for the benefit of the ruling APC” quite untenable.
“Where is persecution in asking a suspect of corrupt practice to account for his sleaze? Is stealing, embezzlement of public funds, contract fraud, money laundering and other corrupt practices excusable for some? Corruption has no gender, religion, tribe, political party or other extraneous alignment. Selective outrage cannot be a defence against criminal investigation for graft. The crucial question is, are opposition politicians being investigated or prosecuted by the Commission wrongly accused?
“What threatens democracy is not the EFCC doing its job, but the attempt to intimidate or blackmail it into abandoning investigation allegations against corrupt opposition politicians for fear of accusations of selectivity.
“What the so-called opposition politicians are seeking to achieve in this assault against the EFCC is far from altruistic, but a veiled attempt to confer immunity from prosecution for alleged corruption on politicians who suddenly find themselves in the opposition. This gambit is alien to the Nigerian constitution and the enabling law of the Commission both of which compel mandatory action against any evidence of graft irrespective of the position and political inclinations of the accused.
“The Commission won’t succumb to blackmail or be railroaded into inconclusive investigations just to be seen to be non- selective in its operations.
“An amendment to the enabling Act to assuage the whims of a disgruntled section of the political class calls for circumspection as it is not likely going to be in the national interest.
“We enjoin all well -meaning , reform- minded and patriotic Nigerians to join hands with the EFCC in this dignity -restoring mandate.”
