Stop Politicising Fight Against Corruption, Group Tells EFCC

A rights group, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop politicizing its fight against corruption.

At a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, the group noted that no matter the antithetical views of the examiners of the EFCC, “One basic fact that is undoubtedly is that the EFCC has not been able to meet its mandate as corrupt officers and practices are visibly felt in society.”

National President of the group, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, explained that in order to successfully fight corruption in Nigeria through the instrumentality of the EFCC, conscious effort should be made by the government that all corruption-friendly relics of inequality, bogus allowances and pension for political elite in our laws and law books should be weeded out.

Omotehinse pointed out that equality before the law as a concept has to be practised in order to avoid selective justice and disobedience to the rule of law, adding that, “Corruption is a global phenomenon, which is prone to be curbed or eliminated, rearing an ugly head in Nigeria because of the insincerity, lack of accountability, transparency, intrigue and ulterior motive of the state leadership and those who are responsible for it function.

“It has been proved that corruption can be fought successfully by states only when their leaders are sincere, accountable to the people, transparent, selfless, and purposeful in winning the fight and most importantly, not above the law; more so blatant disregard of lawful order of the court is also a high level of corruption.”

The group noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) rode to power on the promise of fighting corruption, but however, maintained that anti-graft agencies should not be used to persecute perceived political enemies whether in opposition parties or within the same party.