The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned politicians sponsoring media attacks against the commission to desist from the act, as they are being closely watched, and the agency will not be blackmailed to silence.
The agency also noted that the frequency of the campaign is likely to increase as the 2027 general election is getting closer, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports.
The commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyedele made the revelation in a statement he signed on Thursday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He explained that such politicians have recruited some paid hack writers to write against the agency, particularity on the prosecution of high profile government officials who are alleged to have soiled their hands while in government.
The revelation is coming on the heels of the bail granted a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami by Justice Emeka Nwite of the federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.
Malami, his wife and son have been dragged to court by the EFCC over alleged fraud running into several billions of naira. Instructively, the former AGF was alleged to have fraudulently acquired choice proprieties worth over N200 billion in Abuja and other states in the country while he served under President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The accused were yesterday granted bail to the tune of N1.5 billion by the judge, after they have spent weeks in detention. .
According to the EFCC, accused politicians are not happy with what the commission is doing, and are now trying to force the it into “a timid mode” but said the agency will not buckle to pressure, even when such attacks are targeted at its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, saying the “motley crowd of paid jobbers” and their sponsors are under close watch.
Oyedele said the agency is a non-partisan body and will not hesitate to prosecute corrupt persons whether in the government or opposition, as there’s “no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the commission.”
“Their objective is to befuddle the work of the commission and, through scaremongering, intimidate the commission into a timid mode,” the agency said.
“The commission wishes to put those recruited into this ignoble enterprise on notice that their activities are under close watch.
“The EFCC will not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria. It reiterates its non-political stance in all its activities
“As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being investigated by the commission.
“Nigerians need to appreciate the fact that the commission is keeping faith with its Establishment Act in all its operations.
“Commentaries about the presumption of innocence of a defendant in court are in line with the provisions of the Constitution and not intended as defence of any individual or group,” EFCC noted.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
