Over 100 Civil Society Organizations under the umbrella of Committee Against Oppression and Persecution, COMAP, have frowned at what they described as “the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s penchant for selective persecution of persons perceived to be in the bad books of certain political interests in the country”.
They decried a situation where a certain set of people close to the current administration would be treated as untouchables even with already established fraud allegations running into billions of naira, while the EFCC unfairly treats those perceived to be in the bad books of these people by levelling unfair allegations and using the instrumentality of Federal power to turn the tide of the courts against them with impunity.
The activists made specific reference to the ongoing court case against a former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, whom they said had been indicted in an alleged bribery and multi-billion naira fraud scandal, and whom they claimed the EFCC had been allegedly shielding from prosecution.
They said the EFCC had, despite valid petitions of corruption against the former Kano Governor and reported request by the Kano government for a report on previous investigations the Commission had carried out on him, refused to look his way.
According to them, the Chairman of the Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, PCCAC, Muhuyi Magaji, also alleged that the agency had traced N51.3 billion allegedly diverted by Ganduje.
In a press statement issued by the CSOs, they observed that while they recognised the dangers that corruption in public and private spaces posed for Nigeria, a law enforcement agency must not jettison the concept of justice in the service of political aggrandizement.
According to them, Mr Ganduje has not only shunned the court and arraignment about five times in the last few months, in his alleged corruption case at the Kano High Court, but has also seriously disrespected the courts and the Nigerian legal system by not even dignifying the courts with representation by Counsels.
COMAP, in the statement signed by its Chairman, Ibrahim Kure; and Secretary, Barr. Udoji Franklin, said, “The Kano High Court was to arraign the former Kano Governor, Umaru Ganduje and his wife on April 17, 2024, over allegations of bribery and misappropriation of funds by the state government.
“Neither he nor his wife went to court. They also disrespected the court so much that they didn’t send any Counsel.
“Matter was adjourned to 29th April but was stalled again. No representation, no appearance. Ganduje was not present.
“The case was again adjourned to May 16, and on that day, arraignment was rescheduled to June 5. Still, the former governor, who we are sure no longer as immunity and is not above the laws of Nigeria by virtue of being the Chairman of the ruling party, did not show up. No representation still. The last arraignment was supposed to be July 11.
“At the resumed proceedings on July 11, Ganduje and his co-defendants were again absent. The judge declined a prayer by the prosecution counsel for a warrant of arrest but ruled that the defendants could be tried in absentia.
“Remember, this is also a criminal case like the one the EFCC is celebrating everyday on another former two-term governor.”
The CSOs called on President Bola Tinubu to save the image of corruption war in Nigeria and stop the EFCC from further deceiving Nigerians by unfairly castigating law abiding citizens, intimidating people perceived to have no godfathers and allowing established criminals to roam the streets with audacity at the expense of the country’s image.
“We are in full support of Mr. President to turn this country around but he must be mindful of those plotting to terminate his rule after four years with unpopular actions. They have formed themselves into a cabal and will be the first set of people to betray him,” COMAP claimed.
The coalition recalled that, shortly after Kano State repealed its chieftaincy laws and reinstated a previously dethroned emir, believed to be close to former Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso, the EFCC, expectedly, immediately invited Kwankwaso officially, but could not follow up with an arrest when the latter obtained a restraining order preventing his arrest by the agency or others.
“In Yahaya Bello’s case, EFCC shunned the laws of the system, treated him like a coup plotter without any official invitation and despite holding a valid restraining order against such, and the Commission thinks it has succeeded in turning Nigerians against him with daily misleading propaganda on their social media handles. Those who are not beclouded by politics and hate know this is deceit and not corruption fight,” it stated.
According to COMAP, Mr Ganduje is not different from the former Governor of Kogi State, as they were both two-term governors.
“Aside from Ganduje, there are many pending cases that the antigraft agency has tactically abandoned.
“We are aware that the N70bn money laundering allegation against Bello Matawalle, former Governor of Nasarawa State, is still pending though he has a restraining order against arrest.
“If the EFCC cannot engage in a just fight against corruption, starting from within its ranks, they should stop molesting vulnerable political figures.
“It is high time we saddled people with the real responsibilities of tackling corruption in Nigeria and not executing dangerous political survival strategies for paymasters,” COMAP stated.
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