- Anti-graft agency considering several petitions
- Says politicians now afraid of ‘vote buying’
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said the anti-graft agency is monitoring a number of politicians after receiving information from members of the public.
He disclosed this yesterday when he appeared for a ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communication Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Bawa, who was asked if there were politicians under EFCC’s radar for possible wrongdoings, said, “Of course, certainly; there are a lot of them that we are watching and a lot of Nigerians have also provided us with information here and there. We are watching and we want you to join them too and give us that piece of information, if you have any.”
The EFCC boss, who said the commission had been receiving petitions on many of the politicians contesting various political offices, explained that operatives were making efforts to sieve through the petitions to ascertain those that were true and really deserving investigation.
He said the agency was working on the petitions behind the scene and ruled out the possibility of extending invitation to any presidential candidate at this critical period to avoid political connotation.
“A lot of petitions left, right and centre, against almost every politician that is contesting for office, but what are we going to do at this hour? Do you want us now to invite one presidential candidate to come and make a statement? The same media is going to say it is politically motivated.
“And for those that yield to the temptations they face, we are dealing with them one at a time, as soon as we get the information and we investigate. Those we found wanting have been punished, some have been dismissed, some demoted and so on,” he said.
Asked to speak on the issue of vote buying, especially as the general elections approach, Bawa said the commission was doing a lot to combat the menace.
He said the EFCC had been discussing it with various stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), politicians and others, calling further on the general public to join in ending the illicit practice.
“Already, because of what is ongoing now, a lot of people are scared about whether or not they can buy votes, whether or not people will be willing to sell their votes,” he said.
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