The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a response to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, dismissing his allegations of political persecution as “wild and far-fetched.”
In a statement released on Friday, the anti-graft agency rebuked the governor for claiming that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was using the Commission to target his administration.
The EFCC maintained that it remains an independent, non-partisan body that operates without “affection or ill will.”
READ ALSO: EFCC arraigns Bauchi commissioner, three others over alleged $9.7m terrorism financing
The Commission delivered a sharp reminder to the governor regarding his own legal history.
It noted that Mohammed was already standing trial for money laundering in 2016—long before the current political friction with Wike—and that the case was only suspended because of the constitutional immunity he currently enjoys as governor.
“If Bala Mohammed wants to be honest, he would have revealed to Nigerians that he was standing trial for money laundering at the time he won election,” the EFCC stated.
“Who influenced the Commission to investigate him in 2016 and charge him to court?”
The EFCC’s reaction follows the recent arraignment of Bauchi’s Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and other officials over an alleged $9.7 million terrorism financing and money laundering scheme.
The agency clarified that Mohammed is mentioned in the court charges because he acted as the “approving authority” for the transactions in question.
The EFCC addressed the governor’s persecution claims with several key points; the facts against Bauchi officials are already before the court; the public is encouraged to review the charge sheets.
The Commission noted it recently arraigned a “ranking member of the ruling party” (APC) without any outcry of persecution.
The EFCC emphasised it did not “invent” terrorism financing laws and is simply enforcing extant legislation.
The anti-graft agency labeled the governor’s complaints as a hypocritical distraction, accusing opposition politicians of screaming persecution only when they are called to account.
READ ALSO: EFCC arraigns Bauchi commissioner, three others over alleged $9.7m terrorism financing
“Crying wolf over issues of terrorism financing is like clutching at straws,” the statement read, adding that no political office holder has the power to influence the Commission’s investigative activities.
The EFCC advised Mohammed to face the governance of Bauchi State and allow the Commission to focus on its mandate of sanitizing Nigeria’s financial space.
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