The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, Worldwide, OYC, on Wednesday came hard on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over its handling of the case involving former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
It could be re-called that an Abuja Federal High Court had ordered the anti-graft commission to unfreeze some accounts belonging to Mrs. Jonathan. However, the commission is yet to comply with the order.
Reacting to the development, the OYC through its National Publicity Secretary,, Engr. Obinna Adibe accused the EFCC under Ibrahim Magu of engaging in gross abuse of the extant laws of the land.
Adibe enthused that “while we call on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti corruption war, we want to place on record that the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has continued to grossly abuse his office.
“The case of former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan is just one of the many unjust persecutions going on in the country.
“The EFCC under Magu has been jumping from one court to another looking for black market injunction to frustrate Patience Jonathan from assessing her NGOs account. So many children who are beneficiaries of this foundation have now been stranded abroad.
“It is quite shocking that a commission entrusted with the responsibility of anti-corruption, would chose which order of court to obey and the ones to flout.
“We call President Buhari to investigate and tame Magu’s excesses before he drives Nigeria into a state of anarchy where the judiciary will now be held in disrepute.”
Also speaking in same vein, the South East Women Professionals observed that “the continued witch hunting of the family of Goodluck Jonathan is inappropriate and may stir up problems capable of collapsing democratic institutions.
“It has come to our notice that the EFCC under Magu is hell bent on destroying democratic institutions- the Judiciary and the Legislative arm of Government by his continuous disobedience to court orders, contrary to 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The National Coordinator of South East Women Professionals, Prof Nkem Ogbonnaya, therefore, urged on President Buhari to call Magu to order.”
On their part, Igbo Students’ Forum wondered “why Magu has been acting as if we are under military dictatorship.
“We wonder why Magu should give oral directives to Banks not to obey court orders by an Abuja high court de freezing the account of Dame Patience Jonathan; it means that our democracy is under threat, and the National Assembly should not allow Magu to drag our dear country into crises.
“Our Dear President Buhari is a good man but Magu has been derailing the anti-corruption campaign of this regime by not following due process, and making it to smearing the integrity of President Buhari in the eyes of the international community.
“Goodluck Jonathan’s family deserves respect at least for handing over power willingly, and Dame Patience Jonathan’s accounts should be opened since the court has given orders”, the President of Igbo Students’ Forum, Comrade Mclord Okorie warned.
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