Don’t Become Tool For Political Blackmail, Northern Elders Forum Tells EFCC

By Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, Kaduna

Northern groups under the auspices of Northern Elders Progressive Forum and Northern Professionals have cautioned the EFCC not to allow itself to become a tool of political vendetta, blackmail, or intimidation against any individual.

This is just as the groups also said that the Commission should refrain from tarnishing the image of certain personalities or any perceived political enemies through media trials.

This was contained in a joint communique issued at the end of the two-day meeting of the groups in Kaduna on Sunday.

Frowning at a media publication making the rounds, the duo groups disclosed their disappointment with the recent media publication titled: ‘EFCC revives 13 ex-govs N772bn fraud cases.’

Showing their disappointment further, the groups explained that in the said publication, names of certain political leaders, and individuals with alleged accusations of amassing public wealth illegally without recourse to the due process and rule of law were mentioned.

However, the groups also explained that the hurried publication has now become a big embarrassment to those mentioned in the publication, including their families, political associates, and the nation at large.

“We think that certain groups of political class because of vendetta or other reasons are cheaply using some media platforms to drag the anti-graft agency image into disrepute to achieve cheap and unpopular political scores.

“There are groups of persons who are allegedly sponsoring such sinister motives against some of the political leaders mentioned in the media publication to tarnish their reputation; those affected are Senators Adamu Abdullahi, Danjuma Goje, Rabi; u Musa Kwankwaso, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Sule Lamido, among others.

“It is unfortunate that those who have done their best as governors to develop and make progress in their respective states are being ridiculed by some faceless groups through media trials,” the communique stated.

The groups therefore urged EFCC leadership to denounce the publication and bring out a bond of assurance by ordering those petitioners to come out publicly and sign to pay compensation to those accused, if after investigation and court process were found innocent from such allegations.

Get More of our proprietary news and analysis as MoneyCentral is now on WhatsApp Channels  Follow the MoneyCentral Nigeria channel on WhatsApp: Click here!