The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has expressed displeasure at the claims by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that the Commission is being used by political opponents, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to persecute him and his aides.

In a statement on Friday, the EFCC said the claims are as wild as they are far-fetched, emphasising that the anti-graft agency is independent and created to fight economic and financial crimes.

The Commission said it is non-partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will. It said the attempt to portray it as a pliable agency that panders to the demands of certain political interests is therefore mischievous and condemnable.

The EFCC said, "It is derogatory for Mohammed to ascribe the Commission’s activities in Bauchi State to the Influence of Mr. Wike. It is important to state that no political office holder is in a position to influence the investigative activities of the Commission. If Bala Mohammed wants to be honest, he would have revealed to Nigerians that he was standing trial for money laundering at the time he won election as governor of Bauchi State. Only the constitutional Immunity from prosecution, which his current office attracts, has put that case in abeyance. Who also influenced the Commission to investigate him in 2016 and charge him in court?

"In the instant case, the facts against some officials of Bauchi State government are already placed before the court. Members of the public can access the charges and decide for themselves whether the case is borne out of vendetta or is a product of painstaking investigation by the EFCC. They will also understand why Bala Mohammed as the approving authority in Bauchi State is mentioned in the charge.

"Crying wolf over issues of terrorism financing is like clutching at straws. The Commission did not invent the law, and where there are offences punishable by extant laws, EFCC will be failing in its responsibility to do otherwise.

"Public accountability should be the priority of politicians of all persuasions. It is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to be quick to scream persecution each time an opposition figure is called to account, but are mute when a member of the ruling party faces the same ordeal. Recently, the Commission arraigned a ranking member of the ruling party in court for alleged corruption, and not a whimper of persecution was heard from any of the political divide."

The EFCC urged Governor Mohammed to focus on the governance of Bauchi State, while the agency focuses on cleaning the nation's financial space, in line with its assigned mandate.

ASA