The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to restore its integrity and focus on the genuine fight against corruption.
The conference stated this on Friday in a statement while reacting to the way the commission is handling the case against the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Signed by its deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the conference asserted that the EFCC’s actions have not only embarrassed the nation but have also reinforced the perception that the anti-corruption campaign has been compromised and politicized.
“The EFCC’s actions have not only brought embarrassment to our nation but have also fueled the perception that the anti-corruption campaign has been compromised and politicized,” the statement noted.
Emphasizing that such behaviour was “unacceptable” and “undermined the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions”, the group said it does appear that in the Yahaya Bello case, the EFCC was increasingly becoming more persecutory than prosecutor.
The CNPP expressed concern over the approach, stating that, “this troubling sequence of events has led many Nigerians to question the true intentions of the EFCC.”
While demanding that the commission immediately ceases the wanton dramatization of its operations, CNPP urged the commission to redirect its efforts towards genuine anti-corruption initiatives and to as well provide clear and consistent explanations for its contradictory actions.
CNPP pledged to continue monitoring the developments closely and to demand accountability from the EFCC.