A group of young people from different parts of the Niger Delta have staged a protest in Port Harcourt in solidarity with former Nigeria’s first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
The Niger Delta youth group decided to support Dame Jonathan over her ongoing investigation for alleged money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The protesters marched to the Zonal Office of the EFCC in Port Harcourt where they complained the investigation was politically-motivated.
The leaders of the group, including Bristol Alagbariya of Ijaw Youth Congress, Sukubo Sara-Igbe of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, and Daniel Wilcox claimed that EFCC was persecuting the former First Lady.
They wandered why Dame Patience Jonathan should be the first former First Lady of Nigeria that would be subjected to investigation by the EFCC.
Wilcox said, “Patience Jonathan has contributed to the development of this country. Whether you like it or not she has contributed to the peace in this country.
“Her husband also contributed to peace in this country and we will not want anything to thwart this peace.
“We are not against her investigation but what we want is that due process must be followed. We have had other first ladies in this country why should our mother, Patience Jonathan be the first. Why are they always against the Niger-Delta. The world should come and hear our cry.” In his response; the South-South Zonal Director of the EFCC explained that the anti-corruption campaign is not selective.
The EFCC official noted that the actions of corrupt politicians are responsible for the economic recession in Nigeria.
“Let me say this, the EFCC is a creation of the Law and the highest investigating body in the land.
“We do not shy away from our responsibility no matter whose ox is gored. It there is a case, we will follow it to a logical conclusion and where there is non, there is non.
“People must be wary and take cognizance of what is happening today. This recession did not just occur overnight, it is the cumulation of the actions and inaction of of some people. A situation whereby some people take hundreds of millions of naira and dollars,” he said.
You will recall that the EFCC recently ordered the freezing of some bank accounts belonging to Dame Patience Jonathan in ongoing investigation of alleged laundering of thirty-one million dollars.
Four companies had last week pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection to fifteen million dollars traced to a former domestic aid of Nigeria.
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