The much touted fight against corruption is something that attracts different interpretations to different people. For some, it does not matter if our anti-corruption agencies go after members of the opposition only. I sincerely do not think they are completely wrong, because if you are found wanting you have to be held accountable and your being in the opposition does not make you any less culpable.
For others, the fight must be holistic or it would amount to victimisation and attempt to emasculate the opposition. For this category too, they have a point, after all the mantra of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is that they are fighting corruption and not fighting the opposition, except it is to be taken that all the corrupt elements are all in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
True, corruption is the single reason Nigeria’s growth has remained stunted. The corrosive effect of corruption on the nation is such that all our values have been completely eroded. It is unacceptable that amidst a sea of hunger-ravaged, poverty-stricken population, a minuscule and insignificant few are spending hundreds of millions to buy cars for their spouses. Politicians whose only known occupation is public service and were literally feeding from hand to mouth before assuming office are now living in dream houses with dozens of exotic cars parked in and around their premises.
It is unacceptable that a few would continue to fritter our collective patrimony but it is doubtful if what we need is fighting corruption the Ibrahim Magu way. As acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Magu has not left anyone in doubt that he is only out to hunt perceived enemies of the government of the day. His approach is such that he barely makes any attempt to give his action any semblance of fairness and evenhandedness. His brief appears clear-cut; pursue only those who are not in the good books of the federal government.
Recently, EFCC resumed its hunt for Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. The agency in a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Government House and dated April 26, demanded full details of all Saraki’s earning as governor of the state.
The EFCC, in a letter signed by its Zonal Head, Isyaku Sharu, noted that it had commenced fresh investigation to probe all salaries, allowances, estacodes, and payments Saraki received as governor from 2003 to 2011; eight years after he left office as governor of Kwara State. The notification was contained in a letter titled, “Investigation Activities: Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Isyaku wrote in the letter that: “In view of the above, you are kindly requested to furnish us with the full details of all his entitlements to include but not limited to emoluments, allowances, estacodes, other fringe benefits and severance package while he held sway as the Executive Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011. “This request is made pursuant to Section 38 (1) & (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.”
Meantime, from September 22, 2015, Saraki had started facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over charges of false assets declaration and the CCT had ruled that the prosecution failed to establish guilt against him. The Supreme Court, in a judgment on July 6, affirmed the June 2017 decision of the CCT, which ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the case against Saraki.
The Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson-led Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had struck out 15 out of the 18 counts amended charges of false assets’ declaration brought against Saraki by the federal government and ordered the CCB to conduct a fresh trial on three of the charges.
The three remaining charges were eventually struck out, exonerating and vindicating the former Kwara State governor, who insisted that his trial was politically-motivated.
Meanwhile, the EFCC’s recent onslaught is coming at a time when the 8th National Assembly is rounding up and there are serious jostling for leadership positions in the 9th Assembly. Some are of the opinion that attempts are being made to whittle down Saraki’s influence so as to avoid the very same scenario that brought him to office as senate president in 2015.
However, Saraki in his response, again described as mere witch-hunt the investigations commenced by EFCC in the various institutions he had served or currently serving. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki argued that the exercise by EFCC was only aimed at settling scores, laced with malicious and partisan motives.
Responding to Saraki’s allusion to witch-hunt, Magu, in a statement by Tony Orilade, acting spokesman for EFCC, said: “While it is his prerogative to ventilate his views on the matter as he deems fit, the Commission takes great exception at the desperate attempt to cast a slur on its investigative activities by portraying Saraki as a victim of persecution.
“EFCC has taken note of the reactions of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, to the commission’s inquiries regarding his earnings as Kwara State governor as well as on the quality of his financial stewardship in the Senate.
“Furthermore, the agency finds the attempt by the Senate President to tie our inquest to his International Human Rights Commission, IHRC, appointment and his approaching life out of power as misleading, knowing too well that the background to our current inquiries reaches several years back.
“For the avoidance of doubt, EFCC is obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space and has supremely pursued this duty without ill-will or malice against anyone.”
Saraki was not the only governor that left office in 2011. Many others left in 2015 and many more would leave by May 29, 2019; why single out Saraki for consistent questioning? Since when has EFCC started investigating the salaries, allowances, estacodes and payments received by governors and how many APC governors have been so scrutinised? How many governors, legislators and ex-ministers of the two major parties since the nation’s return to democracy in 1999 have been so investigated as Saraki? How far can the EFCC go in its fight against corruption when many former governors and legislators are free men while the EFCC has perpetually beamed its searchlight on Saraki? Is Magu so naive or blinded by vendetta that he can barely see the folly of his pursuit of the senate president? If this is all the agency can say then the commission as led by Magu is tactless and clearly not on top of its game. For heaven’s sake, this same Magu has allegations against him by a sister agency, what has become of it?
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who is now preoccupied with a blind mission to desecrate all the values and cultural heritage of the state was seen receiving dollar bribes at different times, and the video is everywhere around the world, except at EFCC’s office, is a free man and creating more trouble that would outlive him and end up polarising the cosmopolitan state eventually. There are tons and tons of petitions against many serving former APC governors many of whom are key stakeholders of the APC, how many of them are being investigated. If Saraki had not become Senate president against the wishes of the top brass of the party and remained with the APC, will Magu be dissipating so much energy pursuing him as he is doing now?
Institutions as the EFCC should not be enmeshed in political web and ought to be run professionally and must be seen to be fair to all. If this tactless persecution of Saraki by Magu is anything to go by then it is no wonder that the National Assembly did not confirm him substantive chairman of the agency. He remains a baggage that President Muhammadu Buhari must let go to shore up the sagging image of his government.
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