-
Allege Impunity, Disobedience To Rule Of Law And Bias Persecution
-
Over Nigeria’s Fall In Global Corruption Index
No fewer than 100 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and None Governmental Organisations (NGOs) drawn from across the country have insisted that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa must be sacked over what they considered as abysmal failure in the administration of the Anti graft agency and the country’s drop in the Nigeria ‘s perception index in international ratings.
This declaration which was contained in a communique titled “Bawa Must Go,” released at the conclusion of a one day brainstorming session held at the National Headquarters of League of Civil Societies, Utako, Abuja, noted in dismay that Bawa’ poor handling of the ongoing corruption war upon assumption of office lackluster and it’s riddled with witch hunt of selected individuals and organisations as well as perceived enemies of government.
The CSOs, NGOs with some stakeholders in the Middle Belt, North Central geopolitical zone noted that the poor performance of the EFCC Boss, triggered mass protest in Lagos and across Nigeria.
The various members of Guild and League of CSOs, NGOs amongst other burning national issues delineated upon, unanimously endorsed the immediate sack of Mr. Bawa as being unfit for the job.
“Mr. Bawa is unfit for office and should resign forthwith as he does not have the moral capacity to remain in office, due to his lackluster performance and the alleged maladministration of the agency,” they stated
The groups recalled that not less than 40 anti corruption CSOs converged in Lagos recently to protest what they described as the incessant disobedience of court orders by the EFCC under Abdulrasheed Bawa and the seeming politicisation of the agency’s activities.
It was alleged that the EFCC had chosen to become an institution known for brazen impunity, disobeying orders of courts in such manner that does not only undermine the institution of democracy, but also indicates a contradiction to the Anti corruption agenda of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
They lamented that the situation peaked where court of competent jurisdiction, had cause to commit the commission’s head, Mr. Bawa to prison more than once within two months for clear breach of the extant orders of the courts.
They insisted that this gestapo style regime of disobeying court orders must stop as Nigeria is not a bannan republic, adding that attempts by institutions of state to ridicule the country and make it seem like a lawless fiefdom must be resisted by all well meaning Nigerians.
This is because the EFCC seems to have allowed itself to be used as an instrument of political witch-hunt as it targets some individuals/Organisations more than others in the eyes of some Nigerians.
It is an empirical record and fact that some of the organisations have submitted several petitions to the Commission against some heads of organisations, but the EFCC has bluntly refused to act on them, even when the petitioners sit with the EFCC team to reason on the merits of those petitions.
We have discovered to our dismay that once there are political interests and undertones in any issue, the whole process of investigation and litigation becomes politicised .
The EFCC under its present leadership of Mr. Bawa, has become an agent of protection of protection of dubious individuals and corrupt organisations as the chairman has been discovered to be busy telling them not to answer any anti-corruption enquiries against them, even the ones based on freedom of information (FOI) Act, but they would rather go ahead to assure suy organisations that they are under the protection of the EFCC.
The Commission has been discovered to only seems to act in a gestapo style against perceived political enemies of some powerful political forces in the country, rather than being neutral and professional.
For instance, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly was bundled to Abuja on corruption allegations, while several similar petitions elsewhere have been left untouched by the Commission. “Where then is justice, impartiality and professionalism?” They query.
It was in the light of these that the groups posited that the Anti graft agency should be run by people with vast experience in intelligence, security, prosecutorial powers and a military/para-military background and not a civilian/public servant.
They further posited that if the EFCC must stop witch hunting and politicizing issues, then, patriotism and nationalism must be the driving force that would guide the activities of the Commission’s Chairman and mandate.
