By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
A civil society group, Vanguard for Credible Representation (VFCR), yesterday alleged that there was a plot in some quarters to remove the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukayode from office.
The group described the move as “self-defeating” by those at the receiving end of his redefined war against graft in the country.
The Chairman of the CSO, Akinloye Oyeniyi, who addressed journalists in Abuja on the development, however, pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to ignore the calls by the enemies of his administration.
The group accused some elements in the northern part of the country of allegedly being behind the persistent push to remove the EFCC boss from office in their belief that the chairman of the anti-graft agency should be the “birthright” of the North.
The group condemned the attack on the EFCC boss and cautioned strongly that any push for sectional interest portends grave danger for Nigeria’s fragile body polity and unity.
It added that the current agitation by a section of the northern elite could also diminish the integrity of the fight against corruption in the country.
The VFCR seized the opportunity to call on the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to toe the part of honour by making himself available to face charges of alleged corruption levelled against him by the EFCC.
It also urged him to desist from the antics of deploying delaying tactics to hide from the law.
Part of the group’s speech read, “We are all aware that the leadership of the country’s focal anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has experienced shake-up since the assumption of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in office on May 29, 2023.
“This shake-up began on June 14, 2023, when the President suspended the then EFCC Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa indefinitely as the anti-graft agency boss, to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office following weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.
“Consequent upon the suspension, the President subsequently directed the Director of Operations at the Commission, Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol, to step in as Acting Chairman, a position the Borno State-born administrator served in for four months before the President, on October 12, 2023, eventually appointed Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede as the substantive Chairman.
“It is also worthy of note, that the anti-graft agency of recent, has justified the confidence reposed in it through its newly invigorated war on corruption on all fronts.
“The graft war has not only yielded more repatriation of stolen funds and convictions but ultimately geared towards rehabilitation of convicted offenders and enlightenment of Nigerians, to turn away from actions inimical to the economic prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It is sad and self-defeating that while we are all supposed to appreciate and stand behind the new EFCC, some corrupt elements now feeling the heat are surreptitiously weaving machinations.
“Some of their antics include politics of geographical divide, to remove the new EFCC czar; a man whose team has brought on board courage, fecundity of fresh ideas, vision and clear-cut focus to pilot the affairs of the agency for national development.
“It is pertinent to inform the public that this ploy will not only bring about direct chaos on the fragile body polity of the country but also solid support for corruption to continue to feed on our country’s economy and thereby exacerbate the already exorbitant living in Nigeria.
“We call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, not to be distracted by the shenanigans of these few corrupt elements. The EFCC should press on with this current energy, resolve, and enthusiasm in its pursuit of efficiency in its statutory mandate.
“We are, equally sending notice to those behind the plot, to drop their ploy and instead, repent and join other Nigerians and the government in giving the necessary support needed to stem corruption in our country.
“For us at Vanguard for Credible Representation, we shall continue to mobilise Nigerians in support of the Commission on its fights against corrupt practices and appropriately caution it if ever and whenever it is found wanting,” the VFCR added.
