Resist Political Interference: Stakeholders Charge EFCC Chairman, Bawa

…Knock FG for neglecting corruption reports

Heads of renowned investigative news organizations have challenged the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa to resist political interference in carrying out his duties.

This was just as they berated the Federal Government and anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria over the neglect of investigative corruption reports by various media organizations.

The Director of Daily Trust Foundation, Dr. Theophilus Abba led criticisms on Wednesday in Abuja during a radio program, Public Conscience produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG).

While expressing his dissatisfaction on the way and manner corruption stories are swept under the carpet by the past and present governments, Abba stressed that the constitution empowered journalists to hold government accountable.

He however stressed that the responsibility solely lies with the government and anti-corruption agencies to ensure culprits are brought to book as soon as investigative corruption reports are published.

Abba revealed that his organization unearthed uncountable corruption in the course of their investigation and wondered why the government will not go after individuals who misuse public funds.

He said; “How can government put in a minimum of N30 million into a healthcare project and at the end of the day, it is either not completed or abandoned and the people who are supposed to benefit from this project don’t access healthcare and no one is punished.”

On the appointment of 40year-old Abdulrasheed Bawa as new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abba urged the new helmsman to do better investigation to avoid unnecessary embarrassment to the commission.

He said; “it is not the age of the EFCC Chairman that matters but his values and ability to resist to be ruined by those who brought him into the position.”

In his own comments, the Chief Executive Officer OF Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore noted that government reluctance in acting on corruption investigations was because politically exposed Nigerians are usually indicted in their reports.

Sowore said that corruption investigations done by Sahara Reporters alone are enough ammunition to put away many corrupt officials if Nigerian government was genuinely fighting corruption.

In his words; “There is a difference between fighting corruption and using corruption to fight enemies of government. There is also in some cases where they use the fighting against corruption to confuse the fight against corruption.

“You can imagine if when we exposed General Buratai, he was immediately removed and persecuted, we wouldn’t have lost many lives in Maiduguri, Borno State and other states because of his incompetence to curtail corruption.”

On the newly appointed Bawa as EFCC Chairman, Sowore said: “I don’t see how Abdulrasheed Bawa can cover much ground no matter how good he might be when he was brought into that position by the Attorney General of the Federation, and I don’t see how Bawa can go anywhere because he will need to go through these guys”.

On his part, the Executive Director of ‎International Center for Investigative Reporting, Dayo Aiyetan averred that from his organization’s experience, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is not ready to fight corruption, lamenting that impunity has gained more ground this time.

Aiyetan stressed that the existence of a ghost Chief Economic Adviser under the nose of President Buhari where millions of naira have been approved over the years is a clear sign of lack of seriousness in the fight against corruption.

He also revealed that many Nigerians exposed of stealing from government coffers by ICIR in the past are currently in the National Assembly and maintained that the media is vital in nation building anti-corruption war and called on the EFCC Chairman to do all within his power to resist political interference.

Aiyetan stated that one of the significant hindrances to fighting corruption and impunity in Nigeria is lack of assets forfeiture law.

According to him; “Government officials who are stealing public funds use the instrument of state institutions to prevent themselves from being brought to justice.

“Let the National Assembly come up with an asset forfeiture law, that will be a huge disincentive to stealing public funds,” Aiyetan advised.

Speaking in turn, the Chief Executive Officer of TheCable, Simon Kolawole noted that the inability of the government and anti-graft agencies to take action against officials indicted in investigative corruption reports is tough and demoralizing for journalists, lamenting that out of ten stories published the government may likely react to just one.

Kolawole however, warned the EFCC Chairman, Bawa to avoid media trial which he noted is making mockery of the Commission’s mandate and charged him to go after corrupt officials in the present government.

The syndicated radio program is produced by PRIMORG with the support from the MACARTHUR FOUNDATION.