Connect with us

Politics

Inviting Oke without Lawal reinforces perception of ‘sacred cows’ in the anti-graft war, Afenifere tells EFCC

Published

on

Afenifere tasks UN on alleged ethnic cleansing by herdsmen in Nigeria

Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its failure to invite the former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, following his sack.

The group noted that the commission only summoned the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, and his wife, Folashade Oke, over the Ikoyi apartment cash.

Recall that the EFCC announced that it had extended an invitation to Oke and his wife on Wednesday.

The two men were sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday following their indictment for corruption by the investigative panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

In a statement issued Thursday by its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere warned the EFCC against sparing Lawal, noting that its failure to invite him was contrary to the directive by the President that the ex-SGF and Oke should both be investigated by the EFCC.

“We are however surprised that the EFCC has not extended similar invitation to Mr Babachir Lawal, the former SGF sacked alongside Oke”, Afenifere said.

Read also: Following sack, EFCC summons ex-NIA DG Oke, wife over $43m Ikoyi money

The group observed that following public outcry that the Presidency should hand the former officials to the EFCC for prosecution after their sacking, “spokesmen of the administration have been speaking in forked tongues about Presidency not teleguiding the anti-graft war and that the agency would exercise its discretion.”

Odumakin stated that the anti-graft agency appeared to have exercised its discretion by inviting Oke and sparing Lawal whom he alleged was initially protected by the Presidency after he was indicted by the Senate for fraud.

He insisted that Oke should be investigated and prosecuted following indictment for wrongdoing by the Osinbajo panel, adding that the EFCC could not, however, spare Lawal while probing the sacked NIA boss.

“Inviting one and leaving the other has brought to the fore again the charge of selectivity with picking and choosing those to prosecute over corruption in the land which led a serving Senator to observe that insecticide comes handy when allegations of corruption are raised against some people and deodorant deployed when it is the turn of others”, Afenifere said.

The group insisted that EFCC must also invite Lawal in order to push back on the perception of selective treatment in the anti-corruption campaign, noting that everyone who broke the law must be treated equally no matter their status or origin.

“We insist that for the perception not to become stronger that the anti-graft war develops strong teeth against the vulnerable and become toothless against the sacred cows, the EFCC must invite Lawal as it goes after Oke,” it stressed.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now