A coalition of young Nigerians has charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to remain focused in its mandate of checkmating financial sleaze by public officials.
This comes amid allegations by key opposition figures that the commission was being used by the presidency to fight non-members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The Nigerian presidency had also earlier faulted claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was weakening Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and deploying anti-corruption agencies for political ends, branding the accusations as unfounded and driven by partisan interests.
Similarly, the youth organisation, under the aegis of Coalition of Young Nigerians for the Soul of Our Future, lamented that corrupt politicians had resorted to the use of the media to manipulate narratives, while trying to whip up public sentiments.
In a statement signed by its coordinator, Kimberly Saviour Gift, the coalition expressed concern over a growing attempt by politically exposed persons to weaponise media sentiment against lawful anti-corruption processes.
According to the coalition, “This trend follows a familiar and troubling pattern. Public officials amass enormous financial war chests during or after their tenure.
“When accountability looms, they resort to emotional narratives, selective disclosures, and, in some cases, outright distortion of facts to portray themselves as victims of persecution. This strategy is deliberate.
“It is designed to weaken institutions, distract investigators, and delay the day of reckoning. We consider this practice dangerous and unacceptable.”
It further stated that recent public claims surrounding the operations of the EFCC further illustrated this pattern of manipulation.
“Facts already placed in the public domain by the Commission make it clear that administrative bail is a discretionary and conditional temporary reprieve, not a right.
“Where the conditions attached to such bail are not met, no claim of revocation can arise, as there is, in law, no effective bail to revoke.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC’s administrative bail conditions are explicit.
“They include the provision of two reliable sureties who are serving Permanent Secretaries in Federal Ministries within Abuja. Such sureties are required to submit valid appointment letters, letters of last promotion, official identity cards, National Identification Numbers (NIN), recent pay slips, and letters of introduction from their employers.
“Additionally, the sureties must be owners of landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) with valid Certificates of Occupancy.
“The suspect is also required to deposit all international passports, including any official or diplomatic passports, with the Commission, and to report regularly to the EFCC at specified dates and times until the matter is concluded.
“In the case under reference, provisional administrative bail was granted after interrogation, subject to these clearly stated conditions. These conditions were acknowledged and signed but remain unmet.
“Requests for adjournment on grounds of ill health were nevertheless compassionately granted by the Commission, despite the absence of medical reports or verifiable documentation. Investigative timelines were adjusted in good faith. Regrettably, meaningful cooperation did not follow.”
It described as troubling attempts to reframe lawful investigative actions as political intimidation.
“Such claims are not only misleading but corrosive to public trust, particularly when they emanate from individuals who previously served as chief law officers of the federation and are fully aware of the legal implications of administrative bail.
“What we are witnessing reflects a broader and disturbing phenomenon.
“Certain political actors appear to believe they can accumulate questionable wealth, evade or delay investigations, and rely on public sympathy, identity politics, or manufactured popularity to frustrate enforcement.
“Empowerment programmes, selective philanthropy, and aggressive media campaigns are increasingly deployed as pre-emptive shields against accountability.
“We urge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission not to relent, not to be distracted, and not to be intimidated by noise or sentiment.
“Investigations must proceed strictly on the basis of evidence, lawful cooperation, and compliance with due process. Where conditions are unmet, enforcement must follow.
“Where facts support prosecution, consequences must be pursued to their logical conclusion.
“We also call on the media and the public to exercise discernment.
“Journalism must interrogate claims, not amplify them uncritically. Civil society must insist on facts, not feelings. Accountability cannot be suspended because a suspect is powerful, popular, or vocal.
“Nigeria’s future cannot be mortgaged to slush funds, warped narratives, or institutional blackmail.
“The soul of our democracy depends on strong, impartial institutions that are allowed to discharge their duties without interference.
“To the EFCC, we say this: stay the course. Follow the money. Enforce the law. History will be kinder to institutions that stood firm than to those that yielded to manipulation.”
EFCC: ‘Nigeria’s future can’t be mortgaged to slush funds’ – Coalition knocks fraudulent politicians
