Senate president Godswill Akpabio has accused some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of gross unprofessionalism, especially during arrests.
Speaking during plenary on Wednesday, Akpabio said the anti-graft agency has engaged more in sensationalising issues rather than carrying out rigorous investigation.
“The reality is that the EFCC has engaged more on sensation than real investigation,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President further narrated how the former chairman of the ant-graft agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa, tried to embarrass him ahead of the 2023 elections.
Akpabio also recalled how operatives of the commission broke into the house of a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
“I have had me own share, releasing a letter informing the EFCC that I will not be able to come on a frivolous petition was released by the office of the chairman of the EFCC to the press, you see the chairman’s stamp on it,” Akpabio said.
“He released it to the press just to embarrass me because of the 2023 election, but to the glory of God I surmounted it. So, for me, I don’t think we should waste time with EFCC, we need to take a thorough look at EFCC and look at whether the Act setting up EFCC even allows them to function because there is too much discretion.
“I don’t see how the EFCC will go and arrest a former governor and come through the rooftop as if they are taking Pablo Escobar. It happened to Rochas Okorocha, they came through the roof and they broke the POP and went down with guns. Is that EFCC? And to you that is investigation?” Akpabio said.
He said that the new EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, must carry out his duties differently away from how some of his predecessors operated.
