CSOs, Lawyers Warn EFCC Chairman Against Political Witch-hunts

Civil society organizations (CSOs) and human rights lawyers have cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against engaging in political witch-hunts, urging the anti-graft agency to focus on its mandate of fighting corruption in a professional and unbiased manner.

The Committee for the Defence of Democracy and Rule of Law, a broad umbrella of over 100 CSOs, held a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, where they expressed concern over the EFCC’s seeming fixation on particular targets, fierce media trials, and the public display of political affiliations in certain cases.

According to the Co-Convener of the Committee, Barrister Kayode Mogbojuri, the EFCC must not become a tool of political witch-hunt in the hands of disgruntled politicians seeking political retribution against opponents or perceived enemies.

He advised the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to avoid political entanglements and focus on the agency’s core mandate.

The activists cited the ongoing corruption allegations against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello as an example of political persecution.

They pointed out that the charges against Bello were filed despite a court order restraining the EFCC from arresting, prosecuting, or persecuting him or any of his appointees.

The CSOs also highlighted the EFCC’s statement that the former governor was at large, which they argued was evidence of political persecution, as there had been no prior publication that he had been invited.

They further noted that statements by a lawyer representing the Social Democratic Party candidate in Kogi State gave political colouration to the fresh EFCC allegations.

The activists called on the EFCC to respect the rule of law and avoid violating court orders, emphasizing that the fight against corruption must be carried out within the bounds of the law and without political interference.

The CSOs and human rights lawyers urged the EFCC to avoid political witch-hunts and focus on its professional and unbiased mandate to fight corruption, as any deviation from this path could undermine the anti-corruption policy of the President Bola Tinubu administration and attract unnecessary local and international suspicion.