Alleged $413,000 bribe: CSOs knock EFCC over silence on Ganduje’s case
Over 100 Civil Society Organizations under the aegis of Committee Against Oppression and Persecution, COMAP, on Thursday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of being selective in prosecuting corrupt people.
The CSOs were reacting to EFCC’s alleged silence on the allegations of $413,000 bribe leveled against the former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.
the Kano State government led by Governor Abba Yusuf had accused Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, his wife, Hafsat, son, Umar and six others of receiving $413,000 and N1.38bn bribe.
The state government in April filed charges against Ganduje and others; however, efforts to serve them the charges had proved abortive.
Their absence in court stalled their arraignments, in the Kano State High Court, leading to adjournment for at least four times.
However, the High Court presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu, last week, ordered their trials in absentia.
Wading into the matter COMAP in a statement issued on Thursday by Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Kure and the Secretary, Barr. Udoji Franklin wondered why the anti-graft agency still allowed Ganduje to walk free despite the corruption charges against him.
“Aside from Ganduje, there are many pending cases that the anti-graft agency has tactically abandoned.
“If the EFCC cannot engage in a just fight against corruption, starting from within its ranks, they should stop molesting vulnerable political figures.
“It is high time we saddled people with the real responsibilities of tackling corruption in Nigeria and not executing dangerous political survival strategies for paymasters,” COMAP stated.
