Four civil society groups have carpeted the anti-graft agency, the Economic, Financial and other Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing it of messing up in it’s operations.
Specifically, the groups in different interviews knocked EFCC, accusing it of waging wars of political vendetta, witch-hunt and grandstanding.
They however warned that the war on graft is already being lost with the way and manner EFCC is carrying out it’s operations.
Citing the case of a former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, they (the groups) faulted the approach of the leadership of the commission, maintaining that what is going on is nothing but pure vendetta.
Those who spoke to the media include Port Harcourt based National Anti- corruption Vanguard (NAV), Kaduna based Transparency Mandate Group (TM) and Lagos based Strike Out Corruption (SOC).
Commenting on the development, the National Coordinator for NAV, Comrade Joseph Amachree said, “If we are to measure the manner efcc operates, one will be left with no doubt that the anti graft agency has derailed from its mandate of ridding the country off corruption and corrupt practices.
“I say this with all sense of responsibility and I have no apology to make. Look at the case of Yahaya Bello. How on earth would an agency of government flout a judicial order?
A court barred you from arresting someone pending determination of a suit. You disobeyed and in a Gestapo manner storm his house without proper warrant to abduct him. Where in the world do you see organisations behave like that?”
On his part, the Convener of Transparency Mandate, Comrade Isa Dauda Kajuru maintained that the EFCC appears more like an attack dog rather than fighting corruption.
He added that what the agency does is to act based on the body of those in government who have one or two political targets to pursue.
“Anybody who believes that the EFCC as it is now is fighting corruption is merely delusional or being mischievous.
The case of Yahaya Bello comes to mind to illustrate this.
“How do you imagine that someone you suspect of committing a crime reports himself to you as a law abiding citizen and stay in your office for several hours.
“You asked him to go that you will serve him proper invitation but later that day you storm his house with the intention of arresting him.
When he refused to be abducted, you now declared him wanted, this can only happen in Nigeria,” Kajuru said.
The Executive Director of Strike Out Corruption, Comrade Moses Sehindemi lashed out at EFCC, accusing it of selective application of justice in it’s fight.
“There are other similarly corrupt officials of government and the ruling party but my worry is; why the fixation on Yahaya Bello?”
According to Sehindemi, “While not in anyway impeding the commission from working and at the risk of being branded as being a supporter of graft, I think EFCC should apply decency and professionalism to its work.”
He concluded that the fight should be more holistic and thorough.
