The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed allegations by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed that the commission is being used by political opponents to persecute him and officials of his administration.
In a statement on its official X handle on Friday, the anti-graft agency described the governor’s claims as “wild” and “far-fetched,” insisting that it operates independently and without political influence.
The EFCC was responding to comments credited to the Bauchi governor, in which he alleged that the commission was being deployed by political interests, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to target him and his aides.
“The EFCC is an independent agency created to fight economic and financial crimes.
“The commission is nonpartisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will.
“The attempt to portray it as a pliable agency that panders to the demands of certain political interests is therefore mischievous and condemnable,” the statement read.
The agency stated that it was “derogatory” for the governor to link its activities in Bauchi State to the influence of any political officeholder.
The statement added, “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 wanted 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 to court?”
Speaking on the ongoing cases involving some Bauchi State Government officials, the EFCC said the facts had already been placed before the court, adding that members of the public could access the charge sheets to determine whether the matter was politically motivated or the result of investigations.
The EFCC also dismissed claims that it was “crying wolf” by linking the matter to terrorism financing, saying it was enforcing existing laws and would be failing in its duty if it acted otherwise.
“It is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to be quick to scream persecution each time an opposition figure is called to account but to be mute when a member of the ruling party faces the same ordeal.
“Recently, the commission arraigned a ranking member of the ruling party in court for alleged corruption, and not a whimper of persecution was heard from any of the political divide,” the statement added.
The anti-corruption agency requested the governor to focus on governance and allow it to carry out its job of cleaning up the country’s financial system.
Mohammed had previously accused the EFCC of political persecution after the agency took legal action against several of his administration’s personnel, which he claimed was intended to force him to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
