The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have clashed over the arrest, detention, and prosecution of political figures accused of financial mismanagement.
The New Daily Prime gathered that the ADC, in two separate statements signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the EFCC of acting as a tool of the Federal Government to harass and intimidate opposition leaders.
The party’s allegation followed the overnight detention of former Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal and the EFCC’s summons to Imo State government officials to “urgently” provide records relating to the seven-month tenure of former governor Emeka Ihedioha.
The ADC described the EFCC’s actions as a “hatchet job” — a coordinated media trial aimed at discrediting coalition leaders.
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It questioned why the Commission had suddenly found “urgent” reason to investigate David Mark a decade after leaving the Senate presidency, Ihedioha more than five years after his brief governorship, and Tambuwal two years after leaving office.
According to the ADC, the pattern of ignoring ruling APC stalwarts with more recent and well-documented allegations, while pursuing opposition figures over stale accusations, is proof of selective justice and an attack on political freedoms.
The party further alleged that the EFCC began “excavating” all files from ADC chairman Senator David Mark’s tenure as Senate president, in what it described as politically motivated persecution.
EFCC fires back
In response, the EFCC, in a statement posted on its X page on Tuesday, insisted it operates under a non-partisan mandate.
The Commission argued that if it is not condemned for probing both former and serving APC governors and ministers, then investigations into opposition figures should not draw criticism.
EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede described the ADC’s accusations as an “unprovoked attack” and “unwarranted blame game.”
He maintained that any objective observer of Nigeria’s political scene would acknowledge the EFCC’s caution and impartiality in carrying out its duties.
Olukoyede said the ADC’s claims that opposition coalition members were receiving EFCC summons purely for political reasons were “self-serving, diversionary, narrow, and idle.”
He added that the cases in question were not based on new evidence, but rather on files reopened in line with ongoing investigative processes.
He further said: “The question is, what determines “fresh cases” and old cases? Every corruption allegation deserves to be investigated and there is no constraint of time and season in criminal investigations. Available records in our courts showed that several political figures of all divide are answering charges of alleged economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. It is also public knowledge that the EFCC is busy investigating some key figures of the ruling party owing to allegations of corrupt practices.
“Besides, many serving state governors of various political colouration are on the investigative radar of the Commission. The Commission will not be blackmailed into making full disclosures of its discreet investigations of any state or non-state actor, no matter the provocation. The ADC was right to have admitted that “The EFCC does not belong to the APC. It belongs to the Nigerian people. It is funded by taxpayers, not the ruling party.” Nothing can be farther from this truth.
“The ADC and other political groups should focus on their partisan activities and allow the Commission to carry out her mandate. Nothing will make an innocent person answer any charge from the EFCC. The “opposition figures” the ADC is trying unsuccessfully to white-wash know in their hearts that they have issues that necessitated their invitations by the Commission.
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“The immunity against any investigation by the EFCC is accountability and probity. Fraud is fraud. Corruption is corruption.There is no sacred cow, protected interest or partisan consideration in the investigation and prosecution of corruption. The EFCC will continue to do its job and all well-meaning Nigerians are enjoined to ignore political statements meant to heat up the polity and divert attention from the pillage of the national treasury.”
