The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to immediately invite the wife of the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan for questioning over the allegations of money laundering involving herself, her aides and some Skye Bank officials.
Executive Chairman of the Coalition, Debo Adeniran said, “it is beginning to appear like the EFCC is disposed to ‘pampering’ some suspected corruption criminals in our country even though the Act that established the Commission gives it constitutional powers to carry out its duties without fear or favour.”
“The case of the wife of former President Jonathan epitomizes this reality. With the whole lot of confusion, allegations and counter-allegations, media war etc. that are attendant to the Mrs. Jonathan’s case, what else does the EFCC need to invite the person who is at the epicentre of the whole episode, even if just for questioning and clarifications?”
The renowned anti-corruption Crusader added that, “we are impressed by the efforts of the EFCC so far on the Mrs. Jonathan’s case including the arrest and ongoing prosecution of some the aides and the bankers involved. Yet, we cannot help but ask whether indeed the EFCC is being hindered from using the shortest cut to resolve this corruption imbroglio involving the wife of the immediate past President by inviting/summoning her?”
“The truth is that, Madam Jonathan is a Nigerian, like every other one, that must abide by the constitution of the country. What are the fears of EFCC? Does the EFCC handle ‘lesser’ Nigerians in one corruption case or the other in this mode? If we are serious about fighting corruption, we must not consider some people as ‘untouchables’, particularly when such people have been ‘cornered’ like the woman in question as long as the rule of law is not violated!”
Reiterating CACOL’s position on the saga, Adeniran continued, “Like we said when the news broke out that Madam Jonathan had openly laid claim to the $15m frozen in four company accounts and dared the anti-graft agency to invite her for questioning. We ask, how did she get the money and even the ones stacked in her account? That is what we Nigerians want to know.”
“As far as we can understand, she was just a civil servant, so as a civil servant, how did she manage to acquire such properties that worth such stupendous amount, because she would have earned less than 10% of the amount even if she had been a Director or Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa Civil Service all of the entire years she has spent on earth!”
In concluding, Adeniran said, “we are calling on the EFCC to invite Madam Jonathan for questioning with immediate effect. This ‘beating around the bush’ approach is not going to strengthen the anti-corruption war, it can only weaken it. Name, Shame and Shun Corrupt Leaders, anywhere, anytime!”
Meanwhile, the EFCC has invited Department of State Services, DSS, operatives attached to Mrs Patience Jonathan during her reign as First Lady.
They are wanted based on intelligence that they moved huge amounts of money to financial institutions on behalf of their former principal.
Comments