Civil Societies Warn EFCC Not To Compromise Ex-Govs Ganduje, Matawalle’s Corruption Cases
The Kano Advise Executive had arraigned Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat, son, Umar and six others for alleged $413,000 and N1.38billion bribery.
Some civil societies under the Committee Towards Oppression and Persecution (COMAP) non-public faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Price (EFCC) over the absentia arraignment of the immediate past Kano Advise governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
They referred to as on President Bola Tinubu to take the anti-corruption struggle with more precision within the nation.
The Kano Advise Executive had arraigned Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat, son, Umar and six others for alleged $413,000 and N1.38billion bribery.
The defendants, who were absent from court docket, were arraigned in absentia.
On the opposite hand, the coalition requested Tinubu to discontinue the EFCC from extra deceiving Nigerians by unfairly castigating regulation abiding citizens, intimidating other folks perceived to non-public no godfathers and allowing established criminals to whisk the streets with audacity on the expense of the nation’s image.
COMAP, in a observation jointly signed by its Chairman, Ibrahim Kure; and Secretary, Barr. Udoji Franklin on Thursday, frowned at what they described as “the Economic and Financial Crimes Price’s penchant for selective persecution of persons perceived to be within the tainted books of obvious political interests within the nation.”
In accordance with the groups, the Chairman of the Kano Advise Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Price (PCCAC), Muhuyi Magaji, also acknowledged that the company had traced several billions allegedly diverted by Ganduje.
The observation reads in piece; “The Kano High Court docket used to be to arraign the former Kano Governor, Umaru Ganduje and his wife on April 17, 2024, over allegations of bribery and misappropriation of funds. Neither he nor his wife went to court docket. They also disrespected the court docket so noteworthy that they did no longer ship any Counsel.
“Matter used to be adjourned to Twenty ninth April nevertheless used to be stalled yet again. No illustration, no appearance. Ganduje used to be no longer hiss. The case used to be yet again adjourned to Also can simply 16, and on that day, arraignment used to be rescheduled to June 5. Silent, the former governor, who we’re sure now no longer as immunity and is no longer above the guidelines of Nigeria by virtue of being the Chairman of the ruling birthday celebration, did no longer display up. No illustration peaceful. The last arraignment used to be presupposed to be July 11.
“On the resumed complaints on July 11, Ganduje and his co-defendants were yet again absent. The opt declined a prayer by the prosecution counsel for a warrant of arrest nevertheless dominated that the defendants is also tried in absentia. Take into account, right here is also a criminal case adore the one the EFCC is celebrating on a regular basis on every other former two-time length governor.”
The CSOs referred to as on President Bola Tinubu to set the image of corruption struggle in Nigeria and discontinue the EFCC from extra deceiving Nigerians by unfairly castigating regulation abiding citizens, intimidating other folks perceived to non-public no godfathers and allowing established criminals to whisk the streets with audacity on the expense of the nation’s image.
“Except for Ganduje, there are many pending circumstances that the anti-graft company has tactically abandoned. We are mindful that the N70billion money laundering allegation in opposition to Bello Matawalle, former Governor of Nasarawa Advise, is peaceful pending despite the proven fact that he has a restraining notify in opposition to arrest.
“If the EFCC can not have interaction in a simply fight in opposition to corruption, initiating from inside of its ranks, they can also peaceful discontinue molesting susceptible political figures. It is excessive time we saddled other folks with the genuine tasks of tackling corruption in Nigeria and no longer executing harmful political survival suggestions for paymasters,” COMAP acknowledged.
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