El-Rufai: Northern group asks EFCC to avoid selective justice

The Northern Christians Accord (NCA) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. In a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday and signed by Barr. Gideon Jato and Bro. Sunday Adoka, President and Secretary respectively of NCA, the wondered why it would take […]

The Northern Christians Accord (NCA) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday and signed by Barr. Gideon Jato and Bro. Sunday Adoka, President and Secretary respectively of NCA, the wondered why it would take the EFCC such a long time without taking action, even when series of petitions had been submitted at its national headquarters, after the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted El-Rufai and some key officials of his government of embezzling the sum of N423bn.

“For the EFCC and ICPC to have closed their eyes and shut their ears against the indictments, petitions and cries of Kaduna people, only means they are in support of corruption in Nigeria and as such, shielding El-Rufai.

“It is very glaring that the law in Nigeria is centrifugally positioned to favour some people and witch-hunt others. We remember how the EFCC was battling day and night few months ago, looking for former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, over a petition from a group in the state.

“But the same EFCC has brazenly become blind, deaf and dumb over El-Rufai issue, despite the indictment by the House of Assembly, and having received series of petitions from various groups. Whereas, in the case of Kogi State, the Assembly did not indict the former Governor, but EFCC went for him, arrested and arraigned him. But Kaduna is a special case that cannot be handled, because El-Rufai is untouchable?

“The man who was alleged to have stolen N80bn is already standing trial. Why is it taking EFCC and others years to prosecute a man who was indicted of stealing almost N500bn?

“The Northern Christians Accord is giving the EFCC and other agencies responsible for the arrest, prosecution and recovery of the N423bn confirmed by the Assembly to have been embezzled by El-Rufai, to do the needful and save themselves and the nation of this monumental embarrassment.

“Failure to do so, we shall not hesitate to create awareness about the complacency of the agencies, both within Nigeria and to the international community. We shall also mobilise our members across the 19 northern states, to match to the headquarters of EFCC and National Assembly”, the group added.