society
Kogi: Anti-Corruption CSOs warn EFCC against ‘cankerworms of previous management’
Kogi: Anti-Corruption CSOs warn EFCC against ‘cankerworms of previous management’
. Advise Olukoyede to shut out miscreants mistaking EFCC for political structure
. Say latest charge against ex-Kogi Gov embarrassing, reflects victimization
Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations, on Wednesday, warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, under the leadership of Ola Olukoyede, to refrain from allowing “cankerworms of the previous management left in the system” rubbish his credentials as the Head of the Commission.
The over 300 anti-corruption activists, under seven broad frontline organisations, noted that it was pertinent for them to sound an early note of warning in view of the fact that the misuse of the EFCC by political gladiators, as a veritable tool of victimization and score-settling, which they thought had been tackled, was suddenly rearing its head again.
The anti-corruption Civil Society Organisations advised the EFCC boss to sit up and stop the Commission from being accessed by “political miscreants who think EFCC is an extension of their political structures to be manipulated at will.”
They specifically referred to the Kogi State Government’s press statement, which was released on Tuesday, alerting the public to an alleged fresh move by the Commission to witch-hunt the ex-Governor with spurious claims for political reasons.
The activists pointed out that the crux of the latest persecution, going by the EFCC’s amended charge sheet, which featured ex-Governor Bello’s name, showed a clear case of desperation for spurious claims to whip up public sentiment against the target, adding that any litigation on corruption founded on political conspiracy would always have no merits to pursue it.
“While we stand solidly behind any credible anticorruption drive, we, however, oppose and condemn unequivocally any and all corruption allegations with the trappings and trademarks of political victimization as this Kogi case clearly seems to be,” they declared.
They described the latest amended charge as extremely embarrassing, saying, “A Court document at our disposal submitted to the Court by EFCC is alleging that the former Governor and his nephew, one Alli Bello, converted Kogi State’s money to the tune of over Eighty Billion Naira since September 2015!
“This looks like a hurriedly prepared amendment targeted at an individual without paying much attention whatsoever to facts. Except the Commission is able to prove before the court that the duo had been involved in financial transactions with Kogi State money before Yahaya Bello assumed office in January 2016 as Kogi State Governor, then they have a lot of questions to answer Nigerians.”
“This is always how bad-intentioned and politically motivated allegations are exposed and it smacks of a profound dearth of professionalism on the part of the EFCC. If they come up with a nebulous excuse of typographical error, this further exposes their lack of professionalism and calls to question the competency of the EFCC leadership and legal team/department,” the activists noted.
They vowed to expose political actors behind the incessant EFCC political victimization, stating, “We are working with others across the country and we are ready to expose those behind this witch hunting and also expose their dirty dealings which have continued to undermine the current administration’s efforts at economic revitalisation, to the public.”
While referring to a recent statement by Olukoyede against the conduct of some EFCC officials, the anti-corruption activists said, “If the EFCC chairman doesn’t want the embarrassing public image he personally painted and actually known to all Nigerians to continue, he should sit up and get rid of all politically motivated allegations and stop the EFCC from being accessed by political miscreants who think EFCC is an extension of their political structures to be manipulated at will.”
They stated, “After two decades of its establishment, we believe that the EFCC should have garnered enough experience to be strictly professional. But, alas, that doesn’t seem to be the case now. The Commission commits unforgivable legal and procedural faux pas that makes it lose considerable percentage of its cases in Court. For one, the Commission’s agents don’t seem to be thorough enough in their investigations especially in cases that have political undertones.
“Due to lack of merits in those cases, oftentimes, the Commission exposes itself to unnecessary public ridicules and embarrasses itself in Court. Any litigation on corruption founded on political conspiracy will always have no merits to pursue it because the Courts won’t ever be convinced otherwise.”
“We can see that one of the major agenda of the current administration of President Ahmed Tinubu is also to fight corruption. We doubt very much that the Commission can meet up with the expected standards as envisaged by the current administration,” their statement added.
Giving a background of their age-long activities geared towards fruitful anti-corruption struggles, the frontline acitivists noted, “As rights anticorruption organizations, we have been in the Vanguard of clamoring for corruption to be eliminated from Nigeria’s civil service and governance for years. We are convinced that corruption, above any other factor, is responsible for the myriads of developmental challenges confronting Nigeria from a long time even before now.
“That was why we celebrated the establishment of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission in the year 200 and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2003 believing that these two elite anticorruption agencies would stamp out corruption from our system if not completely but, at least, considerably. It was a good step in a good direction.
“But we have observed a disturbing trend in the operations one of these two anticorruption agencies, the EFCC, which tends towards political witchunt. Of course, this didn’t start today but we have to exorcize that spirit from the soul and body of the EFCC.
“There are two major disagreeable patterns in EFCC’s modus operandi for a long time now that should never have been part of any anticorruption regime and these are politicization of cases and media trials through excessive sensationalism of cases under investigation.
“We have witnessed occasions in this country when the EFCC arrested all members of a state assembly, whisked them to their Abuja headquarters, only for the latter to return ro their state and commence impeachment proceedings against their state Governor. Any anticorruption exercise that applies tools of intimidation and blackmail loses its integrity and public trust ultimately, including international support.
“One instance would suffice here. We remember vividly how only five out of a 24-member legislature of Plateau state in 2006 met at 6:00am and ‘impeached’ Governor Joshua Dariye after their alleged meeting with EFCC operatives. We cried out at that time that politicizing the operations of the Commission would kill its noble objectives. Moreover, you don’t need to use extra-constitutional means in fighting the anticorruption war because you cannot use corrupt means to fight corruption successfully. There were, at least, three more instances in this regard.
“After much advocacy by NGOs and other concerned activists, this trend seemed to stop for a while only to rear its ugly head again under the ignoble tenure of Mr. Rasheed Bawa. That error of judgment and the heavy corruption allegations against Bawa were mostly responsible for his premature but well-deserved removal from office last year.
“We had assumed that that would be the end of such misuse of the EFCC by political gladiators who have discovered the use of the Commission as a veritable tool of political victimization and score-settling. But it does seem now that we are wrong.
“We are disappointed that the current EFCC leadership seems to have decided to tow the line of the ignoble Bawa way of doing things the wrong way.”
The statement was signed on behalf of others by the Director, Publicity and Research, Sustainable Initiative for Nurturing Growth, Fisayo Abayomi; Chairman, Zero Graft Coalition, Dr. Olusegun Adesanmi; and National Coordinator, Integrity Forum, Engr. Mohammed Zakari.
Others include the President, Transparency Movement of Nigeria, Barr. Esther Ezechukwu; Chairman, Stop Corruption Coalition, Arc. Samuel Ogedegbe; Executive Director, Africa Accountability Centre, Godwin Ozogula; and Comrade Isiak Aderounmu for
Youthcentric Advocacy Initiative.
society
ALLEGATIONS OF MASS RESIGNATION OF NIGERIAN ARMY SOLDIERS DUE TO CORRUPTION IS BASELESS, IRRATIONAL
NAPS CALL ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BAN BB9JA SHOW.
NAPS Senate arm Call on Federal Government to Banned the Immoral Bb9ja Show.
Solidarity Greetings From National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS), the Leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS) in her campaign against indiscipline, drug abuse and other social vices which stand to deteriorate an individual self-esteem, self-actualization and nation’s integrity. We understood that some social factors significantly influence students and youth in mindset restitution to abnormalities and BB9ja shows stand tall amidst this social vices.
After careful study and observation of what BB9ja show stand for in the entertainment industry, its reveals that its not an academics nor political neither moral oriented show. Since its purpose is far fetch from values uphold and capacity development, the BB9ja show should be concluded as blue film aiming at promoting immoralities in all ramifications.
Africa is known to be values uphold society across the globe and specifically Nigeria. This portray that no rational Nigerian will support the immorality show called BB9ja. It’s obvious that there is *decayedness* in our culture, tradition and moral before the introduction of the immorality show. Yes there is, which is amount to other factors but we should not be on the edge of contributing to continuous degradation of our heritage. A wise men says don’t create problem for solution, rather be part of the solution if you can’t provide one. As history reported the quality of our cultural heritage and uniqueness years back, it most time seems as nightmares to us considering the present Nigeria of our time.
Ditto, there is need for quick intervention by the the Federal Government to place a ban on the show before the youth populace (strength of the nation) and the children become irrational being. We urge the State Government, Local Government, Traditional Rulers not to relent on their efforts to fight immoralities and insanity in our society.
Furthermore, we appreciate all efforts of the government (all levels), traditional rulers, corporate organisations and patriotic citizenry towards restoring sanity and dignity of our dear nation Nigeria.
Conclusively, we call on Federal Government to swift into action in preserving the heritage of our nation by placing a ban on BB9ja show.
Viva Aluta!
Signed:
Comrade Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope
Senate President
National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS)
08069738724
DEBUNKING FALSE NEWS ON YACHT OWNERSHIP
Sahara Weekly Reports That There have been false claims circulating that a private individual’s yacht spotted in St. Tropez is a Nigerian government yacht. Here are some points to consider in order to discern the truth:
1. The 42m Bennetti yacht currently being share online has been privately owned for around 5 years since it was constructed. It is important to note that this specific yacht has no connection or ownership ties to the Nigerian government, president or armed forces. Any claims or assertions suggesting otherwise are simply not true and inaccurate.
2. It is not uncommon for luxury yachts to fly the flag of the owner’s country as well as the flag of the country in which they are registered.
3. The official Nigerian flag is Green-White-Green without a coat of arms in the middle. Flags representing the Nigerian President or the Armed Forces do not contain a coat of arms in the center. Placing anything in the center of the flag is a clear deviation.
Regarding the naval observatory and training ship often referred to as the “presidential yacht,” it was ordered and acquired by Nigeria during President M. Buhari’s tenure (2015-2023). It was delivered in June 2023 but was never paid for. This information has been officially confirmed by the Naval authorities. Director of Naval Information, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, affirmed in a statement in November 2023 that the yacht was indeed ordered during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and was delivered to Nigeria well before it was included in the budget as an outstanding debt obligation. “That is correct, it is in Nigeria,” he said.
Finally, it is important to exercise caution and refrain from defaming or exposing private individuals and their legitimate businesses to ridicule based on false political associations with personal property.
https://x.com/otegaogra/status/1832371410230022261?s=46&t=-WT1A6V3jj52Bil8fk9JSg
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