Contrary to accusations by some political actors across the country questioning its operations, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reiterated that its mandate is to tackle corruption, not opposition politicians.
The commission made the response in an emailed statement issued on Monday by its Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
“Claims of ‘weaponisation of the EFCC,’ ‘erosion of EFCC’s independence,’ ‘persecution of opposition politicians,’ ‘politicisation of EFCC’s operations,’ and other assumptions contained in a recent media statement by some politicians are deliberate misrepresentations of the commission’s task in bringing suspects of economic and financial crimes to book.
“First, the commission’s weapon is its Establishment Act, which provides the ground norm of its activities. The Act mandates the commission to investigate and prosecute all economic and financial crimes. The only exceptions to criminal prosecution by the commission are political officers granted constitutional immunity during their tenure. Suspects of corrupt practices from the ruling party, opposition party and non-partisan actors have no immunity and are being equally investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC.
“A checklist of arrests and prosecutions by the commission in the last two years under the current leadership shows that strong members of the ruling party, such as former governors and ministers, as well as others not publicly known, are sharing tables with a motley number of opposition politicians and others.
“The truth about the EFCC is that it is only faithful to its mandate and nothing else. This mandate is about tackling corruption and not any imaginary adversary or political motive. The commission finds the insinuation made by opposition politicians that ‘there is a discernible pattern of persecution of the opposition by the EFCC with the sole objective of weakening same for the benefit of the ruling APC’ quite untenable.
“Where is persecution in asking a suspect of corrupt practice to account for his actions? Is stealing, embezzlement of public funds, contract fraud, money laundering and other corrupt practices excusable for some? Corruption has no gender, religion, tribe, political party or other extraneous alignment. Selective outrage cannot be a defence against criminal investigation for graft.
“What threatens democracy is not the EFCC doing its job, but attempts to intimidate or blackmail it into abandoning investigations into allegations against corrupt opposition politicians.
“What the so-called opposition politicians seek to achieve through this assault against the EFCC is far from altruistic, but a veiled attempt to confer immunity from prosecution for alleged corruption on politicians who suddenly find themselves in the opposition.
“The commission will not succumb to blackmail or be railroaded into inconclusive investigations just to be seen as non-selective in its operations.
“We enjoin all well-meaning, reform-minded and patriotic Nigerians to join hands with the EFCC in this dignity-restoring mandate,” the statement read.