Crime

EFCC Accuses Former Governor and Ministers of Organizing Protest

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 5th, 2024.

EFCC Accuses Former Governor and Ministers of Organizing Protest

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused a former governor and two ex-ministers of orchestrating a planned protest against the agency. This was revealed by Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s head of media and publicity, during a Strategic Communications Inter-agency Policy Committee briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

Oyewale disclosed that 259 civil society organizations, operating under the banner of the ‘Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reform,’ have withdrawn their support for the planned protest.

“I received information that about 259 civil society organizations under the Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reform publicly withdrew their support for the proposed protests on Wednesday,” Oyewale stated.

He added, “If 259 civil society organizations publicly declare their refusal to back the protests, it significantly undermines the protests’ moral foundation. This group has indicated that their intelligence suggests a former governor and two former ministers are leading the protest efforts.”

Oyewale also noted that the EFCC has its own intelligence, concluding that the planned protest is not in the nation’s best interest and cautioning youths against being manipulated for purposes they do not fully understand.

“Nationwide, the Commission is receiving substantial support, including from the media and all stakeholders in the anti-corruption campaign,” Oyewale said. “Those advocating to ‘end the EFCC’ or ‘save the EFCC’ are typically individuals affected by the Commission’s actions.”

He emphasized, “If the EFCC were not effective or if the public were indifferent to our work, we would not be facing these attacks. Our actions naturally provoke resistance from those with something to hide. Therefore, we felt it necessary to inform the public that the true intentions behind the planned protests are not as stated.”

Oyewale reiterated that the opposition to the EFCC stems from its ongoing efforts to combat corruption in Nigeria.

“Our activities are affecting individuals who have reasons to oppose us, and it’s expected they will resist. That’s why we publicly addressed the planned protests, making it clear that their stated motives are misleading. We have a duty to inform the public,” he concluded.