Economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC), a reputable government agency that has over the years fought corruption is now involved in some of the worse unspeakable corrupt practises.
The Economic financial crimes commission has since the beginning of the Mohammed Buhari Administration been accused of being a substantial tool to witch hunt the former administration’s executives and intimidate any potential political candidate for the 2019 election. They were also accused of looting recovered looted funds and breaking the laws of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
A recent development has proven these accusation to be true as the EFCC an anti-corruption institution has been fingered in shoddy activities.
Ibrahim Magu who formally assumed office as the acting chairman of EFCC on November 11th 2015 and was supposed to be confirmed by the senate was exposed by the Department of State Service DSS of all his illegal, corrupt practises. The most shocking amongst other allegation was the 83million rented and furnished apartment funded by the fedral capital development agency (FCDA).
the rented mansion in the elitist Maitama District of the Federal capital territory (FTC) Abuja located at No. 8B, Rudolf Close, off Katsina Ala Crescent, in the highbrow Maitama District, was the abode of a former federal minister who died sometime in May 2014.
An impeccable source said: “The property was rented to the Acting EFCC Chairman for N40,000,000 at N20,000,000 per annum.
“Furthermore, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) curiously awarded a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by Rtd Air Comm. Umar Muhammad, to furnish the residence at the cost N43,000,000, in a Government where the President is known to have frowned at and rebuked his ministers for requesting N20,000,000 each to secure accommodation and furnish them.
“It is shocking that the man spearheading the anti-corruption crusade of the government will be involved in such a venture.
According to the monetization policy it is illegal for Federal Capital Development Authority,
FCDA, to pay for Mr. Magu’s rent as it was against federal government’s monetization policy.
The monetization policy was passed into law vis-a-vas passage of the certain political and judicial office holder acts 2002, it is legally stated that monetization of the salaries and allowances of all categories of Federal public servants that were formally paid in kinds be converted to cash by the salary and wage commission. The fundamental aim of the policy is to prevent and thwart government officials from using the public or tax-payers money for personal gain.
The monetization policy was expressly defiled when the FCDA funded the accommodation of an executive, it is illegal for the FCDA to rent and furnish a house for even ministers let alone heads of government agencies. Even at the FCDA, there was violation of procurement process as Abuja Metropolitan Council officials grumbled over the pressure mounted on them to perfect the process.
This is where the conspiracy begins that left the public with so many questions.
Why will the FCDA go against the federal government monetization policy?
What is the connection between the FCDA and EFCC?
Under what arrangement is the FCDA involved in with using tax-payers money to rent and furnish the apartment for the acting EFCC boss?
These questions has the public pondering, did the FCDA pay Magu’s rent and furniture as a bribe to malign, besmear and persecute the former Minister Sen Bala Mohammed who was unjustly arrested and detain for 45days with no charges or evidence of all accusations.
Connecting the dots between when the former minister was invited and detained by the EFCC and the statement by the lawyer representing the EFCC when asked why the former minister was yet to be granted bail 27 days in detention with no charges, he said “I did inform the court that we would do our best; whatever I said before the court is subject to the decision of my senior, my superiors. I am just a small boy” that left the court asking who this superiors are that wants Sen Mohammed Bala detained after he has met all bail conditions.
With these recent findings and development it is clear that the present minister of FCTA Mohammed Bello connived with the acting EFCC chairman Magu to besmear and persecute Sen Bala Mohammed.
It is now a clarion call for the Buhari Administration to investigate the involvement of the FCT minister Mohammed Bello in this corrupt scandalous conspiracy and necessary actions should be taken.
The way corruption is fought is more important than the fight against corruption. If corruption is fought with wicked, impure, callous and sadistic measures or procedures, we run the risk of creating tin-gods and the fight itself will be in breach of citizen’s fundamental rights as guaranteed by 1999 constitution.