Pressure groups, the Northern Elders Progressive Forum, and Northern Professionals Development Group have condemned the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for engaging in what they described as media trial of some ex-governors on the pages of newspaper, tasking the Commission to follow due process in its operations.
Speaking in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Kaduna on Sunday, jointly signed by the chairman, Dr Usman Sani and secretary, Comrade Yusuf Abubakar, the groups in reaction to a newspaper report of commencement of EFCC’s trial of the ex-governors, most of whom are of Northern origin, urged the Commission not to allow itself become a tool of political vendetta, blackmail, or intimidation against any individual through personal grudges, persecution, or campaign of calumny.
“While we commend the efforts of the new leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Mr. Ola Olukoyede in the fight against corruption, we have no doubts that the new EFCC boss will stick to the standard of the operation of the Commission.
“We are dismayed with the recent publication by the Punch Newspaper titled ‘EFCC revives 13 ex-govs N772bn fraud cases’ in which it hurriedly published names of certain political leaders, and individuals with alleged accusations of amassing public wealth illegally without recourse to the due process and rule of law.
“There are groups of persons who are allegedly sponsoring such sinister motives against the political leaders mentioned in the Punch’s hatchet story to tarnish their reputation including Senators Adamu Abdullahi, Danjuma Goje, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Sule Lamido, among others.
“The hurried publication has now become a big embarrassment to them, their families, political associates, and our dear nation in the quest for objectivity, a presumption of innocence, emotional, and moral psyches.
“It is painful to see Dr. Bello Matawalle, who has served Zamfara state meritoriously, honestly, diligently, and transparently, being included in this conspiracy by some hidden forces with the intention to destroy his good name and service rendered for the progress of his state and country.
“Matawalle was successfully screened, and cleared by the Department of State Security and EFCC many weeks before appearing at the Senate for another screening and subsequently cleared as Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are surprised that the same EFCC that cleared and gave him a clean slate will return through the back door to allow such alleged documents to be circulated and published by the Newspaper. It is like rubbishing the Presidency, Senate, and the security agencies that worked tirelessly to ensure due process in clearing him for ministerial responsibility,” the groups stressed.
