The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says there are planned campaigns of calumny by politicians and interest groups seeking to undermine its anti-corruption efforts.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC
spokesperson, said individuals with “vested interests in suspects being
investigated or facing prosecution” had recruited a mix of politicians,
academics, “so-called civil society activists” and Nigerian fugitives in the
diaspora to launch sponsored media attacks against the commission and Ola
Olukoyede, its chairman.
Oyewale said the alleged campaign is aimed at portraying the
EFCC as politically biased in the execution of its mandate.
He noted that the objective of the alleged attacks is to
intimidate the commission and discourage it from investigating opposition
politicians for fear of being labelled as partisan.
“This campaign is likely to intensify as the political space
becomes charged, in the months leading to the 2027 general election,” the
statement reads.
“The Commission wishes to put those recruited into this
ignoble enterprise on notice that their activities are under close watch, and
EFCC will not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of
improving public accountability in Nigeria.”
Reiterating the commission’s non-partisan stance, Oyewole
said EFCC’s operations cut across party lines, noting that both ruling and
opposition party members are being investigated or prosecuted.
“Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor
belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has
no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the Commission,” he
added.
“As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling
and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being
investigated by the Commission.
“It is needful that Nigerians appreciate the fact that the
Commission is keeping faith with its Establishment Act in all its operations.
“Commentaries about presumption of innocence of a defendant
in court are in line with the provisions of the Constitution and not intended
as defence of any individual or group.
“Additionally, the Commission has no alliance or working
relationship with any political party. All these facts are unassailable.
“The EFCC will not be pressured or blackmailed into making
public disclosures of politically exposed persons being investigated for one
alleged corruption case or the other.
“Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to
justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfilment of its mandate.”
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