The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday rejected claims by the African Democratic Congress that its recent actions against certain opposition politicians were politically motivated, describing the allegations as “self-serving, diversionary, narrow and idle.”
Reacting to the ADC’s statement, EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said the Commission’s mandate was being executed without bias.
He stated that under his watch, the Commission had been investigating former ministers and governors in the ruling party and should not be criticised for probing opposition leaders.
“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 was quoted as saying in a statement by the EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale.
The ADC had alleged that “opposition coalition members have received EFCC summons that are clearly politically motivated” and that these were “not fresh cases arising from new evidence but new files opened in reaction to emergent political affiliations.”
However, the EFCC said the allegations were baseless, stressing that every corruption allegation deserves to be investigated as there is no constraint of time and season in criminal investigations.
“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 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, ” the statement partly read.
The EFCC added that records in Nigerian courts showed several political figures from across the political spectrum were facing corruption charges, while many serving governors of various political affiliations were under active investigation.
The anti-graft agency said it would not be blackmailed into making full disclosures of its discreet investigations of any state or non-state actor, no matter the provocation.
“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. 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 statement added.
Acknowledging the ADC’s own admission that “the EFCC does not belong to the APC” but to the Nigerian people, the commission stressed that “fraud is fraud, corruption is corruption. There is no sacred cow, protected interest or partisan consideration in the investigation and prosecution of corruption.”
He urged political groups to focus on their partisan activities, noting that the opposition figures the ADC was attempting in vain to defend were well aware of the issues that warranted their invitation.
The EFCC said, ”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.
“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 maintained it would continue its work undeterred, calling on Nigerians to ignore political statements aimed at heating up the polity and diverting attention from “the pillage of the national treasury.”
