The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) has raised the alarm over what it described as a coordinated marketing campaign of calumny geared toward discrediting the anti-graft company and its management, warning that such efforts is not going to distract it from finishing up its statutory mandate.
In an announcement issued on Wednesday by Dele Oyewale, its Head of Media and Publicity, the Fee stated it had uncovered plans by sure politicians and curiosity teams to sponsor sustained media assaults in opposition to the EFCC, significantly focusing on Ola Olukoyede, its Chairman.
In line with the Fee, the marketing campaign is being pushed by people and teams with vested pursuits in suspects at present underneath investigation or going through prosecution by the EFCC.
It alleged {that a} “motley crowd” of paid brokers, together with politicians, teachers, self-styled civil society activists and a few Nigerian fugitives within the diaspora, has been mobilised to push what it described as phantom allegations of political bias in opposition to the company.
The EFCC stated the final word goal of the marketing campaign is to undermine its work and intimidate it right into a state of timidity, the place it could be reluctant to analyze or prosecute opposition politicians for concern of being branded partisan.
“The intention is to befuddle the works of the Fee and, via scaremongering, intimidate it right into a timid mode,” the assertion stated.
It added that the marketing campaign is anticipated to accentuate as political actions collect momentum forward of the 2027 common elections.
The Fee warned these concerned within the alleged smear marketing campaign that their actions are being intently monitored, stressing that it could not tolerate any try and distract it from what it described as its patriotic obligation of strengthening public accountability in Nigeria.
Reiterating its non-political posture, the EFCC maintained that its data clearly present that no political actor, whether or not from the ruling get together or the opposition is shielded from investigation or prosecution the place there may be proof of corruption. .
It famous that a number of distinguished figures throughout the political divide are at present going through trial or are underneath investigation by the Fee.
The EFCC additional emphasised that every one its operations are guided strictly by the provisions of its Institution Act.
It clarified that public commentaries referring to the constitutional presumption of innocence of defendants in courtroom shouldn’t be misconstrued as a defence of any particular person or group.
“The Fee has no alliance or working relationship with any political get together,” the assertion stated, including that such details are “unassailable.”
The anti-graft company additionally dismissed requires it to publicly disclose the names of politically uncovered individuals underneath investigation, insisting that it could not succumb to strain or blackmail to take action.
“The EFCC is not going to be pressured or blackmailed into making public disclosures of politically uncovered individuals being investigated for one alleged corruption case or the opposite,” the assertion learn.
The Fee reaffirmed its dedication to justice and accountability, pledging to proceed finishing up its mandate “with out concern or favour,” regardless of political issues.
