FG has discredited EFCC- Kwara Must Change

● Says persistent removal of EFCC chairmen over unsubstantiated claims a disservice to Nigeria

A leading pro-democracy group, Kwara Must Change, has tackled the Federal Government of Nigeria over the persistent removal of chairmen of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2003 over unsubstantiated claims of corruption.

Kwara Must Change queried the FG over the weekend on its popular radio programme, Eto Wa on Sobi FM in ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

While reacting to the subject of persistent removal of EFCC chairmen by successive government, including the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kwara Must Change guest, Kamaldeen Babasiga noted that all allegations against EFCC chairmen remain mere allegations without substance.

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According to Kamaldeen, “No EFCC chairman has been prosecuted and found guilty of any crime since 2007 and their persistent removal by FG is eroding confidence in the anti graft institution and as a matter of fact, it is a disservice to the nation.”

Kamaldeen noted that, “it is a shame that no one single EFCC chairman is free from allegations by federal government since 2007 and the FG has not been able to come up with any justification to warrant its persistent removal of EFCC chairmen.”

He explained that, “FG can remove EFCC chairmen without accusing them of any crime, but when you continuously accuse head of your anti graft agency of graft without ensuring adequate prosecution, you subject the agency to public disrepute.”

Another guest, Abdullateef Babafila corroborated the position of Kamaldeen.

Babafila maintained that, EFCC had some records of achievements, particularly in its successful prosecution of several high profile cases, including former Governors, but those achievements were discredited by successive governments, claiming that previous government used the EFCC to prosecute and witch hunt their enemies.

“However, if EFCC under a govt succeeds in securing conviction, it means that it was able to present valid evidences before a court and allegations of witch hunting enemies can not arise” Babafila said, adding that, EFCC under other government should also secure conviction against others, whether friends or enemies.

Another guest, Moyosore Yusuf, concluded that FG had discredited EFCC more than anyone else.

According to him, when EFCC was first established, every Nigerian understood that there’s at least an organization that could hold anyone to account without fear or favour no matter how highly placed the individual could be, and the entire nation held the agency in high esteem, but due to persistent allegation by federal government without substance, “almost anyone, including internet fraudsters now find it convenient to question EFCC’s credibility.”