Northern Elders Groups Allege EFCC of Bias Against Northern Politicians in Anti-Corruption Campaign

The Northern Professionals Development Group (NPDG) and the Northern Elders Progressive Forum (NEPF), two well-known Northern organisations, have unitedly expressed concerns regarding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) purported bias against Northern politicians during its most recent anti-corruption campaign.

After a two-day conference on national problems, the groups released a unified statement expressing their dismay and cited a Punch newspaper article headed “EFCC Revives 13 Ex-Governors’ N772bn Fraud Cases.” The NEPF and NPDG criticised the report for highlighting corruption allegations against a number of Northern lawmakers.

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In the communiqué, NPDG Secretary Comrade Yusuf Abubakar Dingiyadi and NEPF Chairman Dr. Usman Sani condemned the publishing, saying it had embarrassed the individuals, their families, and the country as a whole.

The organisations expressed gratitude for the EFCC’s efforts to fight corruption, but they also issued a warning about possible abuse of the agency for personal political advantage.

They made the suggestion that some political organisations might be using media outlets to damage the reputations of particular individuals.

It was suggested in the communiqué that those who level charges in public should reimburse the accused in the event that a thorough investigation and legal proceedings prove their innocence.

The groups underscored the significance of maintaining the presumption of innocence and encouraged the EFCC to maintain objectivity and impartiality in its efforts to combat corruption.

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Concerned that political pressure was undermining the EFCC’s goals, the NGOs urged the agency to guarantee impartiality and openness in its probes.

The communique stated, “The commission should not allow itself to become a tool of political vendetta, blackmail or intimidation against any individual through personal grudges, persecution and campaign of calumny to tarnish the image of certain personalities or any perceived political enemies of the characters hiding behind their executive power to unleash allegations through media for public consumption and sympathy.

“There are groups of people who are allegedly sponsoring such sinister motives against some of the political leaders mentioned in the PUNCH story in order to tarnish their reputation; those affected are senators Adamu Abdullahi, Danjuma Gone, Rabu’u Musa Kwankwasko, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Sule Lamido, among others.

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“Most painful to see even the serving political leaders are not spared example of Dr. Bello Matawalle who has served Zamfara State meritoriously, honestly, diligently, and transparently, but his name was involved in this conspiracy by some hidden forces with the intention to destroy his good name and service rendered for the progress of his state and the country at large.

“However, we advise EFCC leadership to denounce the Punch publication and bring out a bond of assurance by ordering those petitioners, characters who allegedly accused those mentioned by the Punch Newspaper and many others to come out publicly and sign to pay compensation to those accused if after investigation and court process were found innocent from such allegations”.

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