*Ask EFCC leadership to denounce publication, give assurance
*Commend Tinubu on successful military operations in North West
*Task Northern political elite, religious, traditional leaders to create political understanding, unity
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been warned against being used as a political tool to tarnish hard earned reputation of some respected politicians of Northern extraction.
The warning was contained in a communique issued by Northern Elders Progressive Forum and Northern Professionals Development Group, on national issue and a recent Punch Newspaper’s publication titled “EFCC revives 13 ex- govs N772bn fraud cases”, held in Kaduna on Sunday, January 21, 2024.
“The commission should not allow itself to become a tool of political vendetta, blackmail or intimidation against any individual through personal grudges, persecution and campaign of calumny to tarnish the image of certain personalities or any perceived political enemies of the characters hiding behind their executive power to unleash allegations through media for public consumption and sympathy.
“There are groups of people who are allegedly sponsoring such sinister motives against some of the political leaders mentioned in the Punch hatched story on order to tarnish their reputation; those affected are senators Adamu Abdullahi, Danjuma Gone, Rabu’u Musa Kwankwasko, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Sule Lamido, among others,” the communique said.
According to the communique jointly signed by Dr. Usman Sani, (Chairman) and Comrade Yusuf Abubakar Dingiyadi (Secretary), issued at a press conference at the end of the two-day meeting of the groups, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede should stick to standards.
“While we commend the efforts of the new leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Mr. Ola Olukoyede in the fight against corruption we have no doubts that the new EFCC boss will stick to the standard of the operation of the commission.
“However, we are dismayed with the recent reports and publication by the Punch Newspaper title EFCC revives 13 ex-govs N772bn fraud cases in which it hurriedly published names of certain political leaders, and individuals with alleged accusations of amassing public wealth illegally without recourse to the due process and rule of law.
“The hurried publication has now become a big embarrassment to them, their families, political associates, and our dear nation in the quest for objectivity, a presumption of innocent, emotional, and moral psyches.
“We think that certain groups of political class because of vendetta or other reasons are cheaply using some media platforms to drag the anti-graft agency image into disrepute to achieve cheap and unpopular political scores,” they said.
While however, appreciating EFCC’s highly motivated operations and effective fight against crimes and corruption in the country so far, they pointed out that it is pertinent to note that, the new objectives assured by the leadership of EFCC in the fight against crimes and corruption under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu are about to be eroded by certain selfish group of political individuals with access to media and investigations in the commission.
“It is unfortunate that those who have done their best as governors to develop and make progress in their respective states are being ridiculed by some faceless groups through media trials.
“Most painful to see even the serving political leaders are not spared example of Dr. Bello Matawalle who has served Zamfara State meritoriously, honestly, diligently, and transparently, but his name was involved in this conspiracy by some hidden forces with the intention to destroy his good name and service rendered for the progress of his state and the country at large.
“Matawalle was successfully screened, and cleared by the Department of State Security and EFCC many weeks before appearing to the Senate for another screening and subsequently cleared as Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It’s pertinent to note that, those who are putting this campaign of calumny against his personality on media are just afraid of his growing popularity and acceptance, especially as Honourable Minister and political leader in the North West region and Nigeria as a whole,” the communique stressed.
The group said, “We are surprised that the same EFCC that cleared and gave him a clean slate will return through the back door to allow such alleged documents to be circulated and published by the Newspaper. It is like rubbishing the Presidency, Senate, and other security agencies that worked tirelessly to ensure due process before clearing him for ministerial responsibility.”
They therefore, advised EFCC leadership to denounce the Punch publication and bring out a bond of assurance by ordering those petitioners, characters who allegedly accused those mentioned by the Punch Newspaper and many others to come out publicly and sign to pay compensation to those accused if after investigation and court process were found innocent from such allegations.
“We are aware of how some cases, despite their media trial before the advent of the present government, ended in rubbishing the EFCC and good intention of fighting against corruption in the country. There is no need of EFCC grieving more than the bereaved,” they pointed out.
They commended the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the successful current military operations going on, especially military air strikes in major hide-out of terrorists in some part of the North West.
“The air strikes and ground operations in Sokoto, Zamfara and some parts of Kaduna and Niger states have yielded much success, which has tremendously forced the majority of them to leave their enclaves looking for shelter.
“While praying for continued peace and political cohesion in our region and the nation in general, we appeal to the Northern political elites, religious and traditional leaders to create an environment of political understanding, unity, and mutual respect for one another.
“They should not allow political differences to destroy our common interest. unity, and survival of the region,” they submitted.
