Chairman Ola Olukoyede has denied widespread claims that EFCC is being used as APC political vendetta tool.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, yesterday said that the commission was not established for political vendetta.
He also said there is no link between the investigation of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Olukoyede refuted the allegation that EFCC was being used to blackmail opposition figures to join the ruling party.
The chairman, who spoke on television last night, said the commission has focused on anti-graft war, assuring that there would be no deviation.
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He said: “We have used the instrumentality of the work to stimulate the economy. We looked inwards to see areas to firm up.
“It is important for me and my colleagues in the EFCC that if we’re going to fight corruption, we will fight it with integrity. We have been able to do away with about 27 bad eggs, who do not fit into the system.
“I’m very sure that Nigerians will attest to the fact that politics has not been introduced into the mandate of EFCC.
“Yes, people will read the meaning of whatever you do. I am not a politician; and as far as I know, no member of my operative is deeply involved in politics.
“So, we do our work in line with our mandate, which is investigating anyone involved in financial crimes.
“And if such people are found culpable or if we are able to establish a case against you, we go on. I can tell you that we have stayed within that mandate.
On allegation of using EFCC to hound the opposition figures to force them to join the ruling party, he said: “You’ll agree with me that I have not been appointed as chairman of any political party.
“If Nigerians will be fair to us, and check our high profile cases, perhaps, you might find prominent members of the ruling party. My mandate is: if I discovered or it is alleged you have stolen money, you’ll have a case to answer.
Olukorede said EFCC never blackmailed Okowa, adding: “Politics has not been introduced into our mandate.
He stressed: “Investigation has since begun into his case. Like I told you, we are driven by principles of our mandate.
“Nigerians should also know that we have had cause to investigate and prosecute prominent members of the ruling party.
“It is not our mandate to make anyone join any political party, as I am neither a secretary nor chairman of any political party.
Olukoyede wondered why the case involving Okowa was singled out, saying that it is strange.
He said: “I don’t understand why a case of a past governor should be singled out. Is that the only ex-governor we have invited for investigations since my assumption of office?”
The EFCC boss said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is more interested fulfilling the commission’s mandate rather than influencing its operations.
He stressed: “Nigerians should appreciate Mr. President. Anyone who works closely with Mr. President will know that he is interested in your work.
“The body language of President Tinubu is how has your work enhanced the economy and to ensure we deliver on our mandate.
“Those close to him will tell you that he doesn’t want to hear anything except your performance. The kind of Mr. President we have doesn’t have time to interfere in any case.”
On the ex-National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) chief, Usman Yusuf, who alleged that the ruling party was using the commission to silence him, Olukorede said: “His case didn’t start under this current government. His case file has been there.
“Nigerians will agree with me that I promised I was going to review some cases. And that is exactly what I’m doing.”
