EFCC REJECTS GOV BALA MOHAMMED’S PERSECUTION CLAIMS, INSISTS PROBE IS NON-POLITICAL
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By: Sefiu Ajape
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has rejected allegations by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that it is being manipulated by political opponents to persecute him and members of his administration.
In a statement shared on its official X handle on Friday, the anti-graft agency described the governor’s claims as “wild” and “far-fetched,” stressing that it functions independently and is not subject to political control.
The EFCC was reacting to remarks attributed to Mohammed, in which he alleged that the commission was being used by political interests, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to target him and his aides.
“The EFCC is an independent agency created to fight economic and financial crimes.
“The commission is non- partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will.
“The attempt to portray it as a pliable agency that panders to the demands of certain political interests is therefore mischievous and condemnable,” the statement read.
The commission described it as “derogatory” for the governor to link its operations in Bauchi State to the influence of any political office holder.
The statement further said, “It is derogatory for Mohammed to ascribe the commission’s activities in Bauchi State to the influence of Mr. Wike.
“It is important to state that no political office holder is in a position to influence the investigative activities of the commission.
“If Bala Mohammed wants to be honest, he would have revealed to Nigerians that he was standing trial for money laundering at the time he won election as governor of Bauchi State.
“Only the constitutional immunity from prosecution, which his current office attracts, has put that case in abeyance. Who also influenced the commission to investigate him in 2016 and charge him to court?”
On the ongoing cases involving some Bauchi State Government officials, the EFCC said the details had already been laid before the court, noting that members of the public could examine the charge sheets to determine whether the cases were politically motivated or based on investigations.
The commission also dismissed claims that it was “crying wolf” by linking the matter to terrorism financing, maintaining that it was merely enforcing existing laws and would be neglecting its duty if it failed to do so.
“It is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to be quick to scream persecution each time an opposition figure is called to account but are mute when a member of the ruling party faces the same ordeal.
“Recently, the commission arraigned a ranking member of the ruling party in court for alleged corruption, and not a whimper of persecution was heard from any of the political divide,” the statement added.
The anti-graft agency urged the governor to concentrate on governance and allow it to carry out its responsibility of sanitising the nation’s financial system.
Mohammed had earlier accused the EFCC of political persecution following the commission’s legal actions against some officials of his administration, alleging that the moves were intended to pressure him into defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
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