The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has strongly rejected allegations by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that it is being used by political opponents to witch-hunt him and members of his administration.
In a statement shared on its official X handle on Friday, the anti-graft agency described the governor’s claims as “wild” and “far-fetched,” stressing that it operates independently and without political interference.
The EFCC was reacting to comments attributed to Mohammed, in which he accused the commission of acting at the behest of political interests, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to target him and his aides.
According to the commission, “The EFCC is an independent agency created to fight economic and financial crimes. The commission is non-partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will.” It added that portraying the agency as one that panders to political interests was “mischievous and condemnable.”
The EFCC said it was improper for the governor to link its activities in Bauchi State to the influence of any political office holder, insisting that no individual has the power to direct or interfere with its investigations.
The commission further claimed that Mohammed failed to disclose that he was standing trial for alleged money laundering when he was elected governor, noting that the case was only suspended due to the constitutional immunity attached to his office. It also questioned who influenced the commission to investigate and charge him in 2016.
On the cases involving Bauchi State officials, the EFCC said the facts were already before the courts and that charge sheets were publicly available for scrutiny, dismissing claims that the actions were politically motivated.
The agency also denied allegations that it was exaggerating issues by linking investigations to terrorism financing, saying it was merely enforcing existing laws and fulfilling its statutory responsibilities.
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“It is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to cry persecution whenever one of their own is investigated, yet remain silent when members of the ruling party face similar charges,” the statement said, adding that the commission had recently arraigned a senior figure from the ruling party without any such outcry.
The EFCC urged Governor Mohammed to concentrate on governance and allow the commission to carry out its mandate of combating financial crimes.
Governor Mohammed had earlier accused the EFCC of political persecution after legal action was initiated against some officials of his administration, alleging that the move was aimed at pressuring him to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
