…Says Media Leaks Scuttling Investigation
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied probing Chief Justice Walter Onnogen, as reported earlier today.
Indeed, the commission expressed dismay that its secret probing of some past and present officials has been leaked to the media, therefore jeopardising investigation.
The commission was reacting to a report published by a national newspaper that also listed several high profile persons, including former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi and Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, among the people under probe.
The EFCC denied that it was the source of the leak, according to a statement by Wilson Uwujaren, its spokesman, although the agency admitted sending a list to the office of the the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), based on request.
“It is important to state that this report did not emanate from the EFCC and the allusion to “an EFCC source” is diversionary and mischievous.
“For the avoidance of doubt, cases under investigation communicated to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation by the Commission are classified information and it is troubling how such would be leaked to the media.
“The mastermind of this leak is out to create disaffection between the Commission and, particularly, the Judiciary. The Commission wishes to state categorically that it is currently not investigating Justices Onnoghen and Kafarati.
“While Onnoghen was being considered for his present position, the Commission received some petitions which were investigated and found to be without merit and discarded.
“Indeed, much damage has been done to the Commission’s investigation activities by this leak especially as some of the cases mentioned are still at preliminary stages of investigation.
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