APC To EFCC: Ensure Ekweremadu, Others Don’t Escape Prosecution

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after more corrupt politicians and public holders who may be in possession of looted funds.

The ruling APC said the EFCC, alongside the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other anti-graft agencies, must ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign promise to fight corruption to the barest minimum is realized.

Speaking in a statement by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, the APC referred to a “current Senate presiding officer” believed to be the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, saying he must not escape prosecution.

The ruling party said it was vital for the anti-graft agencies to track and prosecute all corrupt politicians in the country especially as the 2019 general elections draw near.

“Our call to anti-graft agencies is imperative as we prepare for the 2019 general elections. We must check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections in this country. Again, it is important that the Nigerian electorate have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and corruption test. We must ensure that we never again entrust the leadership of this great country to gang of thieves whose sole aim is treasury looting as brazenly displayed in past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations,” said the ruling party.

The APC said, “An example is a current Senate presiding officer facing EFCC investigations. It is difficult to fathom how a federal lawmaker, who before his current position was an Associate Lecturer and Local Government Chairman, owns 22 high-end properties in Nigeria and other exclusive locations across the world. It is our hope that the anti-graft agencies investigating this Senate Presiding officer makes public his and other corruption probe status reports so that Nigerians can know them for who they are.

“Meanwhile, in line with our promise to combat corruption, the fight against graft has been hugely successful and the gains are clear. The bold effort of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to instil probity in our national life has led to the gradual disappearance of the era of impunity.

“Commendably, President Buhari in line with his tough anti-corruption stance recently signed into law the Nigerian arm of the global financial intelligence unit – Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). We are confident that the new law will boost ongoing efforts to combat money laundering, terrorism financing and check suspicious transactions, especially as we prepare for the 2019 elections,” said the ruling party.