Coalition of Civil Society Organisations has called on the National Assembly to investigate the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede, for failure to interrogate Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello when he came to the commission’s office last year.
The coalition at a press conference, stated that Bello willingly submitted himself to the commission after he had been declared wanted for four months.
Co-convener of the coalition, Benjamin Oguche, Ph.D, who read the text of the press conference, accused the EFCC Chairman of deceit, insincerity, unseriousness and hypocrisy in the fight against corruption.
“Till date, the EFCC has not found face to tell Nigerians what transpired when Yahaya Bello willingly submitted himself for questioning.
“Instead they have adopted propaganda, half-truths and outright lies in a desperate attempt to redeem a fatally battered image. Nigerians are fully aware of the theatrics and antics and, therefore cannot be fooled.
“We demand that the relevant committee of the National Assembly should immediately launch an investigation on how EFCC failed to interrogate Bello upon arrival at its Abuja office and the plot to eliminate him at Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro Abuja”, Oguche demanded.
He also accused the commission of attacking protesters who went to its headquarters to demand an end to the abuse of the court process in a case involving a former governor.
According to him, “officials of the EFCC launched an attack on peaceful protesters of the various CSO groups and Kogi youth who had only come to register their grievances over the refusal of the EFCC to obey court order as it were in a case between the commission and the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alh Yahaya Bello which also generated unusual media attention or even media trial.”
He recalled that the coalition had in a petition to the National Assembly, raised concern on how officials of the EFCC beat, wounded and molested the protesters and harassed the journalists present.
“We also noted with utmost disgust the vandalisation of the vehicles, musical instruments and gadgets the group brought for the protest, including two luxurious buses belonging to the Abuja Urban Mass Transit.
“Regrettably and most shockingly, four months after that petition was lodged, no concrete action has been taken by the leadership of the National Assembly and all those found culpable in using the instrument of coercion to stifle the civil space are still moving freely, including the head of the commission, Ola Olukoyede without investigation and appropriate sanction”, Oguche stated.
He therefore called on the National Assembly to act on the May petition by summoning Olukoyede.
The coalition further called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint a high-ranking police officer as the EFCC Chairman for the sake of professionalism, fight against corruption and rebuild global confidence in an institution like the EFCC.