Anti-graft agency raises alarm over campaign of calumny

Anti-graft agency raises alarm over campaign of calumny
Correspondent Uche Iheanacho, Abuja

The anti-graft Agency in Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised alarm over an alleged plot by a high profile suspect to launch campaigns of calumny against the agency and some of its officials.

The agency, in a statement, claimed that the elements, who were being coordinated and funded by a high profile suspect in a case of criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds and money laundering it was are currently investigating, were last weekend mobilized with ill-gotten funds to launch series of attacks against the Commission and its leadership.

“These hirelings have been paid to stage appearances on popular television and radio stations’ discussion programmes under the banner of some civil rights groups and under the guise of analysing the nation’s anti-graft war”.

Strategies

It is also part of their plan to author newspaper advertorials and articles, all for the sole aim of rubbishing the progress being made in the anti-graft war and ultimately weaken the morale of staff of the Commission.

All these have been plotted to find an escape route for just one suspect who has enormous resources to pay groups and pseudo-activists to destabilize or distract a government agency working for the emergence of a better society.

“Members of the public are therefore urged to disregard jaundiced and self-serving statements that will be coming from these elements in the days ahead.

“Nigerians are encouraged to ask these hirelings their contributions to the nation’s anti-graft campaign.”

EFCC has of today, recovered more than 11 billion dollars, secured over 600 convictions with more than 1,500  cases including 65 high profile ones pending in courts.

This is in addition to hundreds of real estates, vehicles and other assets the Commission has seized from suspects and accused persons.

Tackling corruption

The Commission has since 2008, continued to advocate the establishment of special courts to handle the numerous corruption cases stalled in the regular courts.

According to the statement, “these elements have closed their eyes and minds to the progress made so far and the challenges at hand because there is no personal gain or pecuniary  benefits in joining such a crusade that will ultimately promote good governance for the betterment of our society which they pretentiously claim they defend in their activities.

“It is our belief that rather than promoting any self-serving agenda, it is time for all to heed the call of Preident Goodluck Jonathan, who at his inauguration on May 29, declared that… “the bane of corruption shall be met by the overwhelming force of our collective determination, to rid our nation of this scourge. The fight against corruption is a war in which we must all enlist. So that the limited resources of this nation will be used for the growth of our common wealth.”

“we again wish to alert the public about a fresh plan to launch all manner of attacks on the Commission by persons we are presently investigating for corruption charges”.

Williams