The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed claims by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that it is being used by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to harass him.
The anti-graft agency said the governor’s claims were “as wild as they are far-fetched”.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission views with great displeasure the claims of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, about the commission being used by political opponents, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to persecute him and his aides.
“These claims are as wild as they are far-fetched. The EFCC is an independent agency created to fight economic and financial crimes,” the EFCC said in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Friday.
It said it remains non-partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will, adding that the attempt to portray it as a pliable agency that pandered to the demands of certain political interests was mischievous and condemnable.
“It is derogatory for Mohammed to ascribe the commission’s activities in Bauchi State to the influence of Mr. Wike. It is important to state that no political office holder is in a position to influence the investigative activities of the commission.
“If Bala Mohammed wants to be honest, he would have revealed to Nigerians that he was standing trial for money laundering at the time he won election as governor of Bauchi State.
“Only the constitutional immunity from prosecution, which his current office attracts, has put that case in abeyance. Who also influenced the commission to investigate him in 2016 and charge him in court?” the statement added.
The EFCC explained that in the instant case, the facts against some officials of the Bauchi State Government were already placed before the court.
Members of the public can access the charges and decide for themselves whether the case is borne out of vendetta or is a product of painstaking investigation by the EFCC.