Stop harrasing EFCC

First, we need to admit it that in all that we have been hearing about the works of the EFCC, nobody has come out to tell the public that innocent Nigerians are being hounded by the EFCC. We all know our politicians too well- they are always crying wolf where there is none! If the […]

First, we need to admit it that in all that we have been hearing about the works of the EFCC, nobody has come out to tell the public that innocent Nigerians are being hounded by the EFCC. We all know our politicians too well- they are always crying wolf where there is none! If the EFCC has to invite any politician to respond to any allegation or petition written against him or her, why alleging witch-hunt over such an issue?

The EFCC, in spite of its challenges and limits, is all we have to ensure public accountability. It is not politicians alone that are answerable to the EFCC,  bank workers, managers, financial players in all sectors of the economy, contractors, business people of all sorts and even religious people are all being invited to answer to any charge raised against them. So, why would politicians make us think that they are a special breed endangered by the investigation and prosecutorial works of the EFCC?

If any politician has a grouse against the EFCC, such a person should rather respond to the allegations against him than engage the anti-graft agency in a blame game. We should tell ourselves the truth- the EFCC also has a right to say that it is being blackmailed or harassed. We should be careful not to send a wrong signal to the outside world that the anti-corruption war is being frustrated even in the home front.

Ramota Adewole wrote from Ibadan.