My Olukoyede
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operations are not targeted at members of the opposition, or any ethnic group, stressing that cases are being handled irrespective of political affiliation of the suspects.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said this in an exclusive interview Sunday night with Sunday Politics on Channels Television, where he spoke on the prosecution of some politically exposed persons namely, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello.
“Let me tell you about that particular former attorney-general that you are talking about — there is nothing personal in this matter. If Nigeria is to move forward, all of us must agree that this fight must be fought without being partisan, and that’s what I want Nigerians to understand and to agree with us,” Olukoyede said.
“So now I want to tell Nigerians that the investigation of this man predated me in office, and a lot of people don’t know that. Yes, I inherited the investigation file. What I did was to ensure that the investigation was carried out in a very professional and thorough manner.
“He has been under investigation for almost two and a half years. The file was opened not even under me. I inherited it, and for the past over two years I’ve been in office, we’ve been painstakingly carrying out the investigation, trying to establish some of these offenses and all of that,” the EFCC chief said.
“Not until I was convinced that we had a watertight case — and Nigerians are witnesses — so there’s nothing personal about it. I don’t understand the issue of persecution and all of that.”
On the case involving a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Olukoyede said that the case is still in court and that he has done his bit on the matter.
He explained that he has no hand in how the cases progresses in court because he is not in the judiciary. He however pleaded with Nigerians to exercise patience because the judiciary is also overwhelmed with too many cases.
Olukoyede had vowed to resign if the former governor was not prosecuted.
When Seun Okinbaloye, the anchor of the programme reminded him of his vow; he said the court is handling the matter.
“Have I not made good that promise of commitment? Is Yahaya Bello not being prosecuted? The case is still in court.
“I have three cases against Yahaya Bello. Am I the judge who would determine the conviction? I have done my work. I have fulfilled my mandate. Nigerians must know that, and they must also encourage us in doing more. This man has been investigated, and we have filed charges against him, and the matter is gaining traction.”
Bello is facing a 16-count charge involving alleged property fraud amounting to N110bn alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
The former governor is also before the Federal High Court, where he is facing another 19-count charge of N80.2 billion fraud and money laundering.
