Offensive Campaign: EFCC Nabs Billboard Contractor
For illegally hoisting political advertisements on two billboards bearing the name and logo of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Enugu Command of the anti-graft agency has arrested an outdoor advertisement contractor in Enugu State.
Operatives of the Commission reportedly swooped on the advertiser for what competent sources described as a serious breach of protocols in the advertising industry.
The anti-corruption Commission explained that the two billboards, located at Otigba and Zik Avenue Junctions in Enugu, bore offensive messages ascribing them to its name with threats to the aspiration of some politicians in the state in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.
One of the messages reads: “2023: Enugu PDP Learn From 2007 Election… EFCC IS COMING WITH KOBOKO ON CORRUPT CANDIDATES.”
According to the EFCC’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, following credible intelligence received, operatives of the Commission on Saturday arrested one Mr Baron Nnamdi, the alleged designer, printer, and owner of the billboards hosting the offensive political campaign messages.
On Sunday, the Commission confirmed the arrest of Nnamdi, saying that he has volunteered a statement when interrogated, claiming one media aide to a former Deputy Governor of the state with governorship ambition contracted him for the job.
Furthermore, the arrested contractor claimed he was paid N160,000 for the one-week campaign and that the media aide to the former Deputy Governor supplied him with the messages, EFCC logo, and pictures of Operatives used for the advertisement.
Following his arrest, operatives of the Commission visited the two sites and pulled down the offensive advertisements with Uwujaren warning politicians to play by the rule and refrain from dragging the EFCC into the political fray.
He reiterated that apart from issues of economic and financial crimes which fall within its purview, the Commission has no role in the political process and should not be distracted.
The EFCC Spokesman further said it will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on errant politicians who continue to impersonate the Commission and its operatives in order to intimidate political opponents.