The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed
worry that the standard of the current leadership of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) led by Abdurrashid Bawa is losing steam too fast.
The youths stated that the agency must fasten its belt and
stop the downward slide in operational standards.
Alhaji Yerima Shettima, National President of the forum, in
a statement made available in Kaduna on Saturday said, “We have
been following closely the action of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission( EFCC) hasty moves to nail another Northern Governor, Mohammed Bello
Matawalle. We feel duly concerned to call out the EFCC, led by Abdurrashid Bawa
to desist from this repeated embarrassment of starting what it cannot finish.
The EFCC as an institution of public service that is crucial to sanitizing
Nigeria should not be pulled down by the actions of one man.
“The forum rejects the strategy of media trial because it downgrades not just the operational standards of the agency but it amounts to deliberate policy of intimidation.”
In a democratic setting such as Nigeria’s, the forum said
that the Rule of Law is an essential ingredient as it strengthens the
constitutional rights and privileges of all Nigerians, unlike in a military
dictatorship.
“The EFCC is meant to be an agency of uncompromising
standards that should be a reflection of our domestic and international image
in the fight against corruption,” the statement said.
It stated that it is on record that Governor Matawalle has
been able to stabilize Zamfara State more than his predecessors due to his
modified security strategy.
It asked if the EFCC is now deliberately trying to undermine
these laudable achievements by launching a media trial in broad daylight,
wondering why Belsha Printing Press that Matawalle established before he even
became State Governor be shut down now.
“What kind of law gave the agency the powers to shut down a
private business that predates the owner’s emergence as governor? This is
really distractive for a Governor giving Zamfara his best shot,” the statement
added.
It noted that it is interesting as a group why those
targetted for media trial are Northerners and why this selective approach be
seen in an agency that is supposed to be national in outlook.
The forum urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the EFCC
chairman to order to stop him from undermining the image of the current
administration.
It stated that the issue of contempt on the side of the
current EFCC boss, adding that some Nigerians were planning to drag him to
court.
“We thought the recent court judgement that ordered he
should be remanded in prison would serve as a warning for his series of actions
that amounted to courts contempt. In other countries, where courts really mean
business, nothingbwould have stopped the EFCC Chairman from going to prison
following such a court’s verdict. Credible intelligence at our disposal has
shown that there are no fewer than 3,000 contempt cases hanging on the neck of
the EFCC because of the Chairman’s approach to issues. This is getting out of
hand.
Most importantly, Nigeria is not a Banana Republic and the
EFCC Chairman should bear this in mind. Let the world know that we are, as
citizens and activists, watching the activities of the EFCC and rating their
performance as an institution of public service,” the statement explained.
It added, “Our advice to the EFCC is that it should strive
to project its original image of an agency meant to fight corruption using the
instrumentality of the law, under a democratic atmosphere. The agency should
always do their homework well before making their presence in the media on any
matter.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com