The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defended its independence following allegations by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that the anti-graft agency was harassing him for political reasons.
Governor Mohammed had suggested that he was being targeted for refusing to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and also questioned the arrest of his Finance Commissioner, whom he claimed had no case to answer.
Responding to the allegation, the EFCC said politics has no place in its operations and described the governor’s claims as unfounded.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Monday, the EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission had consistently demonstrated neutrality since its establishment.
“In the over 20 years that we have been in existence, I don’t think we have given any indication that we are politically biased in carrying out our duty,” Uwujaren said.
He added, “Politics has no business, no place in the work of the EFCC. And like we said in the statement that was issued moments after he made that allegation, with due respect to His Excellency, it was a little bit reckless to come up with that kind of claim.”
Uwujaren particularly faulted the allegation that the commission was acting at the behest of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing it as “derogatory.”
Clarifying the issue of constitutional immunity, Uwujaren said such protection does not prevent law enforcement agencies from carrying out investigations.
“As far as constitutional immunity is concerned, there’s no debate about that,” he said. “Governor Bala Mohammed has immunity under the constitution, but constitutional immunity does not stop law enforcement from investigating any governor, or even the president and the vice president.”
According to him, there is no legal basis preventing the EFCC from investigating a sitting governor or mentioning such a governor’s name in a charge.
“We are not persecuting Bala Mohammed,” he said, stressing that the commission operates strictly within the law.
Uwujaren further emphasised that the EFCC does not receive instructions from any political office holder.
“The EFCC does not take dictation from any political office holder,” he stated.
He urged politicians to desist from dragging the anti-graft agency into political contests, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in its work.
“Politicians should leave the EFCC out of their campaign. People should not drag the commission into politics, because we don’t want to be there,” he added.