Two prominent Northern groups, the Northern Elders Progressive Forum (NEPF) and the Northern Professionals Development Group (NPDG), have jointly accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of bias against Northern politicians in its recent anti-corruption campaign.
The groups expressed their concerns in a joint communique following a two-day meeting on national issues.
The groups specifically pointed to a report in the PUNCH newspaper titled “EFCC Revives 13 Ex-Governors’ N772bn Fraud Cases,” which listed several Northern politicians facing corruption allegations.
They criticized the publication, stating that it had embarrassed the individuals, their families, and the nation.
In the communique, signed by NEPF Chairman Dr Usman Sani and read by NPDG Secretary Comrade Yusuf Abubakar Dingiyadi, the groups expressed their dismay with the report.
They suggested that certain political groups might be using media platforms to tarnish the image of personalities and called on the EFCC to denounce the publication.
While acknowledging the EFCC’s efforts in the fight against corruption, the groups cautioned against allowing the commission to become a tool for political vendettas.
They recommended that petitioners and individuals making accusations publicly pay compensation if those accused are found innocent after investigation and court proceedings.
The groups advised the EFCC to uphold the presumption of innocence, avoid being influenced by political motives, and maintain objectivity in its anti-corruption campaign.
They highlighted concerns about the potential erosion of the EFCC’s objectives due to political influences and urged the commission to ensure fairness and transparency in its investigations.
Part of the communique read:
“The commission should not allow itself to become a tool of political vendetta, blackmail or intimidation against any individual through personal grudges, persecution and campaign of calumny to tarnish the image of certain personalities or any perceived political enemies of the characters hiding behind their executive power to unleash allegations through media for public consumption and sympathy.
“There are groups of people who are allegedly sponsoring such sinister motives against some of the political leaders mentioned in the PUNCH story in order to tarnish their reputation; those affected are senators Adamu Abdullahi, Danjuma Gone, Rabu’u Musa Kwankwasko, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Sule Lamido, among others.
“Most painful to see even the serving political leaders are not spared example of Dr. Bello Matawalle who has served Zamfara State meritoriously, honestly, diligently, and transparently, but his name was involved in this conspiracy by some hidden forces with the intention to destroy his good name and service rendered for the progress of his state and the country at large.
“However, we advise EFCC leadership to denounce the Punch publication and bring out a bond of assurance by ordering those petitioners, characters who allegedly accused those mentioned by the Punch Newspaper and many others to come out publicly and sign to pay compensation to those accused if after investigation and court process were found innocent from such allegations”.
