FG has discredited EFCC- Kwara Must Change

…Says persistent removal of EFCC chairmen over unsubstantiated claims a disservice to Nigeria_

A leading Pro-Democracy group, Kwara Must Change has tackled Federal Government of Nigeria over persistent removal of chairmen of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2003 over unsubstantiated claims of corruption.

Kwara Must Change queried  the FG over the weekend on its popular radio program, Eto Wa on Sobi FM in ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

While reacting to the subject of persistent removal of EFCC chairmen by successive government, including the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kwara Must Change guest, Kamaldeen Babasiga noted that all allegations against EFCC chairmen remain mere allegations without substance.

According to Kamaldeen, “No EFCC chairman has been prosecuted and found guilty of any crime since 2007 and their persistent removal by FG is eroding confidence in the anti graft institution and as a matter of fact, it is a disservice to the nation.

Kamaldeen noted that, it is a shame that no one single EFCC chairman is free from allegations by federal government since 2007 and the FG has not been able to come up with any justification to warrant its persistent removal of EFCC chairmen.

He explained that, FG can remove EFCC chairmen without accusing them of any crime, but when you continuously accuse head of your anti graft agency of graft without ensuring adequate prosecution, you subject the agency to public disrepute.

Another guest, Abdullateef Babafila corroborated the position of Kamaldeen.

Babafila maintained that, EFCC has some records of achievement, particularly in its successful prosecution of several high profile cases, including former Governors, but those achievements are discredited by successive govts, claiming that previous govt used the EFCC to prosecute and witch hunt their enemies.

“However, if EFCC under a govt succeeds in securing conviction, it means that it was able to present valid evidences before a court and allegations of witch hunting enemies can not arise” Babafila said, adding that, EFCC under other govt should also secure conviction against others, whether friends or enemies.

Another guest, Moyosore Yusuf concluded that, FG has discredited EFCC more than anyone else.

According to him, when EFCC was first established, every Nigerian understand that there’s at least an organization that can hold anyone to account without fear or favor no matter how highly placed and the entire nation hold the agency to high esteem, but due to persistent allegation by federal government without substance, almost anyone, including internet fraudsters now find it convenient to question EFCC’s credibility.

End

On Sat, Dec 30, 2023, 6:52 PM Abdulrazaq O Hamzat <[email protected]> wrote:

#PlateauKillings:

*Centralized policing will put Nigeria on flames, PeacePro tells FG*

_Urges National Assembly to facilitate decentralization process_

A Peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called on the federal government to immediately decentralize policing in Nigeria to curtail the spat of overwhelming violence that has consumed the centralized policing structure in the country.

PeacePro explained that, there’s nothing the current centralized policing structure can do to prevent the magnitude of organized violence in rural communities, adding that the federal government must now decentralize security or watch the country go up in flames.

“There’s no other options, we must decentralize policing or surrender to none state actors until we are eventually overwhelmed”

In a statement over the weekend in Ilorin, reacting to the unfortunate tragedy in Plateau State that has so far claimed over 200 lives, the executive director of PeacePro, Amb. Abdulrazaq Hamzat expressed reservation with federal government none proactive approach to issues of security in rural areas of the country.

According to Hamzat, we are sad with the development in Plateau State where organized local criminals descended on innocent people and reck havoc on them in the most dehumanizing manner, but this tragedy could have been avoided, if the federal government has been proactive with the issue of security in rural Nigeria.

Hamzat explained that, it is no longer news that there are too many ungoverned spaces in Nigeria, where organized and well sponsored none state actors operate as lords, and these spaces has become training grounds for all kinds of terrorists, mercenaries and bandits.

“The systematic organization, unhindered supply and availability of high grade fire arms as well as sustainable funding in the hands of these none state actors cannot be threatened by occasional federal security clearance, operations and patrol and this is well known to the federal government and all concerned stakeholders in the country “

Hamzat maintained that, only the decentralization of policing can address the challenge, but unfortunately, the federal government and all those with vested interest are unwilling to execute the generally acceptable solution to the security challenges in the country.

PeacePro therefore called on the federal government to do the needful by decentralizing policing, instead of issuing threats and condolences endlessly.

It also urges the National Assembly to lead the process of facilitating the decentralization of policing, saying only a decentralized security architecture can arrest insecurity in Nigeria.

It concluded by extending its condolences to the Plateau State Government and those affected by the tragic incident.