The presidency has issued a rebuke to opposition politicians, accusing them of engaging in subterfuge and seeking scapegoats to avoid accountability for alleged financial crimes.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The statement follows a recent gathering of opposition figures who alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to threaten multi-party democracy and target political opponents.
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The presidency rejected the accusations of using the anti-graft agency for political purposes.
The presidency stressed that the commission is an independent institution empowered by law to investigate and prosecute financial crimes irrespective of the personalities involved, their political affiliations, or their positions in society.
The presidency challenged those facing investigations to be bold and brave enough to defend themselves if they are clean, stating that the prosecution is conducted by the courts, not by the President.
“We find it curious that the same people who claimed they want to rescue Nigeria are now the ones waging a war of attrition against accountability and probity,” the presidency stated.
The presidency further noted that the EFCC’s recent work contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, underscoring the agency’s commitment to its statutory responsibilities.
Addressing the opposition’s claim that high-profile defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) threaten democracy, the presidency argued that such movements are protected by the Constitution’s freedom of association clause.
The presidency maintained that those joining the APC did so of their own free will, motivated by the noticeable gains of Tinubu’s reform programme.
The presidency questioned why similar defection movements to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 2000 and 2015 were not viewed as imperilling Nigeria’s democracy.
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The presidency warned the politicians against trivialising the national fight against corruption, noting that some signatories to the opposition’s statement were previously investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC before 2023, and some have been indicted in international money laundering probes.
“No one is above the law. Everyone must be accountable for their actions, both in and out of the office,” the presidency stated, advising the politicians not to undermine the integrity of our nation’s institutions by trying to escape accountability.
