The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been chastised by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the detention of Willie Obiano, the former Governor of Anambra State.
The arrest of Obiano by the EFCC, according to APGA, is a “politically motivated witch-hunt,” with the commission resorting to the employment of fifth columnists.
The commission arrested the former Governor at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, hours after handing over power to Charles Soludo, according to Anaedoonline.ng.
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While speaking with reporters on Saturday, Evang Chinedu Obigwe, the National Coordinator of the APGA Media Warriors Forum, said the allegation that the former governor looted N42 billion, of which N37 billion was used to fund political activities, was untrue and without merit.
Obiano remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law, according to Obigwe.
He claimed that Nigerians no longer trust the anti-graft agency, claiming that “when they see the actual corrupt politicians joining APC, they would turn to toothless bulldogs.”
“However, when an opposition figure is involved, they will act as if the person has committed a crime when, in reality, they are simply carrying out the vile orders of their paymasters.”
“The EFCC, as is customary, has resorted to the deployment of fifth columnists for Obiano’s media trial,” he stated. This is proof that they are pursuing him as part of a politically motivated witch hunt.
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“How can you claim that you were unaware that Obiano had been placed on the EFCC watch list last year, only to come out in March and declare that he has been on your watch list for a long time?”
“As a former governor, Obiano was nearing the end of his term, the EFCC did not think it necessary to extend an invitation to him to come to their office for questioning towards the end of his term.”
“In the absence of an invitation from the EFCC, you don’t expect him not to travel out of the country to go and enjoy a well-deserved rest. I don’t agree with the claim that Obiano was running out of the country before EFCC arrested him.
“He was living his normal life and going about his normal business because he has no skeleton in his cupboard. Assuming EFCC extended an invitation to him and he refused to go, it will be a different issue.
“If EFCC claims that he enjoyed immunity while he was governor, they should have extended an invitation to him and made it clear to him that they want him to report to their office immediately after handing over to his successor. Had it been the agency doing this, Obiano will honour their invitation.
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“Another funny thing is that EFCC did not use the same yardstick they are using to measure Obiano on other former governors, especially those that joined APC to escape prosecution.
“APGA as a party says no to EFCC media trial of former governor Obiano because injustice to one is an injustice to all.”
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