EFCC fires back at ADC over targeted arrest, says no one will be spared

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue a reinvigorated anti-graft campaign without shielding any “sacred cows.”

Chairman Ola Olukoyede stressed that the agency operates under a non-partisan mandate, remaining both circumspect and dispassionate in carrying out its duties.

He maintained that the law would be applied equally, regardless of whether suspects are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the opposition.

“If I am not condemned for investigating both former and serving strong ruling party governors and ministers, I should not be condemned for also investigating opposition figures,” Olukoyede said via a statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

READ ALSO: Focus on corruption, not opposition politicians – ADC tells EFCC

The EFCC boss said the investigation and trial of suspects are not time bound.

It was in reaction to the criticisms by the chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against the interrogation of former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal over alleged suspicious withdrawal of N189 billion from the state government account when he was in office.

The former governor, who was detained in the headquarters of the commission in Abuja on Monday, was released around 5pm yesterday on bail.

However, a source said Tambuwal’s passports were seized to restrict him to the country, pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

The ADC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the Commission of reopening dormant cases against opposition leaders as a reaction to “emergent political affiliations.

The opposition party also alleged attempts to intimidate key opposition members by the Federal Government. .

Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, an ADC chieftain, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi objected to the interrogation, saying that Tambuwal’s detention was a ploy to intimidate and weaken the opposition.

Olukoyede described the attack by the ADC as unprovoked and shocking, stressing that it underscored a blame game.

He said it will not submit itself to blackmail to discontinue ongoing investigations.

Olukoyede added: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s unprovoked attack on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), concerning its handling of cases involving politically exposed persons from every divide, came as a rude shock and unwarranted blame game.

“Every objective and discerning watcher of events in the national political scene would admit that the commission has been circumspect and dispassionate in the exercise of its mandate.”

The commission’s chairman also faulted the ADC’s claim that its summons were politically motivated.

He said: “The ADC’s claims that “opposition coalition have received EFCC summons that are clearly politically motivated. These are not fresh cases arising from new evidence but new files opened in reaction to emergent political affiliations to intimidate key opposition figures”, are clearly self-serving, diversionary, narrow and idle.

“ The question is, what determines “fresh cases” and old cases? Every corruption allegation deserves to be investigated and there is no constraint of time and season in criminal investigations.

“Available records in our courts showed that several political figures of all divide are answering charges of alleged economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.

“It is also public knowledge that the EFCC is busy investigating some key figures of the ruling party owing to allegations of corrupt practices.

“ Besides, many serving state governors of various political colouration are on the investigative radar of the commission.”

Olukoyede said its operation was without political colouration, stressing that it will not succumb to blackmail to make any disclosure on its ongoing investigations.

He added: “The commission will not be blackmailed into making full disclosures of its discreet investigations of any state or non-state actor, no matter the provocation.

“The ADC was right to have admitted that “The EFCC does not belong to the APC. It belongs to the Nigerian people. It is funded by taxpayers, not the ruling party.’’ Nothing can be farther from this truth.

“The ADC and other political groups should focus on their partisan activities and allow the Commission to carry out her mandate. Nothing will make an innocent person answer any charge from the EFCC.

“The “opposition figures” the ADC is trying unsuccessfully to white-wash know in their hearts that they have issues that necessitated their invitations by the commission.”

Olukoyede said there is no sacred cow in the anti-graft war.

He stressed: “The immunity against any investigation by the EFCC is accountability and probity. Fraud is fraud. Corruption is corruption. There is no sacred cow, protected interest or partisan consideration in the investigation and prosecution of corruption.

“The EFCC will continue to do its job and all well-meaning Nigerians are enjoined to ignore political statements meant to heat up the polity and divert attention from the pillage of the national treasury.”

(Nation)