Jonathan incapacitated EFCC with poor funding – CACOL
December 18, 2013 by Sodiq Oyeleke
EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde
| credits: File copy
| credits: File copy
The
Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders has accused the Federal Government
under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan of weakening the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by underfunding the agency.
EFCC on Monday, admitted that lack of
adequate funding by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration was
affecting its fight against corruption in the country.
The EFCC Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel
Adegboyega, raised the alarm in Abuja while briefing the Senate
Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, at a
public hearing on the bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian
Financial Intelligence Agency.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its
Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran noted that starving the anti-graft
agencies of fund was a clear indication that Jonathan was encouraging
corruption in all ramifications.
He said, “History will never be fair to
this government as it is obvious that President Jonathan is deliberately
starving the EFCC (of fund) so that the institution would become a
toothless bull dog. Is it not absurd that the EFCC is underfunded in a
country where its National Assembly spends over N150bn yearly as
overhead costs; where a minister bought just two cars for N225m, where
the Presidency budgeted N1bn for food?
“Massive looting is going on every minute in this country unchecked.
“Nigerians are no longer surprised that
the EFCC cannot prosecute any of the big thieves and looters in
government because the government has incapacitated it. Jonathan
government is only paying lip service to fighting the scourge of
corruption in this country.”
Meanwhile, the anti-corruption group has
commended the EFCC on the arraignment of Mr. Fred Ajudua, for fresh
charges of defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya
Bamaiyi (retd.) of about $8.395m.
Adeniran asked EFCC to also investigate
how Bamaiyi came about $8.395m since civil servants were not permitted
to do other businesses.
“It is a good thing that the case has
been reopened but the EFCC should also query Bamaiyi on how he came
about such huge amount. We should not be using state money to protect
criminals,” Adeniran added.
http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-incapacitated-efcc-with-poor-funding-cacol/
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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