By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja
Groups under the aegies of Niger Delta Youths congress, Initiatives for ethics and value orientation and others, asked President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, not to hand over Former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrashid Bawa, to investigate.
This contained in a press statement jointly signed by Comrade. Israel Uwejeyan National Coordinator, Niger Delta Youth congress, Comrade. Godfrey Osolase National Convener, National movement for Democratic change, and Comrade. Bello Idowu National President, Initiatives for ethics and value orientation shared with journalists in Abuja, yesterday.
He said: “We want to vehemently state that we have lost confidence in the current leadership of the EFCC and for any a thorough investigation to take place, the EFCC Chairman must step aside, else we will be chasing shadows. We firmly believe that a strong and credible EFCC is essential for the prosperity and development of our nation.”
The groups urged the Federal government to ensure the arrest of Abubakar Malami, Saadiyya Umar Farouk, Hadi Sirika and others.
According to the groups: “As follow up we acknowledge the first step taken by the present administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards addressing our grievances by relieving the principal culprit, Godwin Emefiele of his post and subjecting him to investigation.
“We nevertheless have serious reservations over the quality and caliber of the leadership of investigating agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Abdulrashid Bawa, himself a suspect.
“Our major concern also is that action is yet to be taken on other principal collaborators such as the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Saadiyya Umar Farouk, former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika.
“Quickly move to secure available evidence of corruption against them in the possession of the EFCC by immediately relieving the agency’s compromised leadership under Bawa and other officials like the Director Operations, Chief of Staff, Mr Ala, Mr Mahmud, Mr Sambo Mayana, and Mr Ibrahim Idris and a host of others strongly believed to be Malami’s pawns.
“Immediately constitute a more credible leadership of the EFCC. In the alternative, set up an independent investigation panel of people of reputable integrity to conduct thorough and comprehensive investigations.”
