The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has once again criticized leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition politicians for accusing the agency of targeting only their members.
The anti-graft agency emphasized that it will not be blackmailed or pressured into inconclusive investigations just to appear non-selective in its operations.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale stated that the commission’s mandate is to fight corruption regardless of whether it is committed by individuals from ruling or opposition parties or organizations.
The clash between the EFCC and ADC intensified over the continued detention of former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who has been in EFCC custody since last week Monday.
Malami, a prominent figure in the opposition coalition, had his bail revoked, a move the ADC criticized, questioning the agency’s political neutrality and warning against politicizing the anti-corruption fight, which they said amounts to corruption itself.
In response, the EFCC challenged ADC leaders and other opposition politicians to prove that those arrested and prosecuted did not commit any offenses.
Oyewale said, “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.”
He added that the real threat to democracy is not the EFCC doing its job, but attempts to intimidate or blackmail the commission into dropping investigations against corrupt opposition politicians for fear of accusations of selectivity.
Oyewale described the opposition’s claim that the EFCC is persecuting them to weaken them for the ruling APC’s benefit as “untenable.”
He said, “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.”
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