Atiku Impressed By EFCC Chairman’s ‘ Intellect And Confidence,’ Urges Him To Resist Political Pressure

Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to resist political pressure.

This followed the acquittal of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of Ray Power and AIT by the Federal Court of Appeal in connection with the alleged N2.1 billion money laundering charges brought against him by the anti-corruption agency over arms contracts under former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

In a statement on Friday, Atiku’s media office said that the former VP was satisfied with the outcome of the trial because it revealed the truth about the lopsided nature of the anti-corruption policy of the Buhari administration.

He said: “The entire anti corruption trials appear to be focused on opposition politicians, thereby casting doubts on the credibility of the anti graft agency.”

The former Vice President recalled that during the 2019 presidential election, the EFCC focused its time and resources on harassing and arraigning aides of opposition politicians, while it was indifferent to how members of the ruling party were financing their campaigns.

Atiku noted that even members of the international community are now coming to terms with the reality that the anti corruption crusade is not impartial, and that the government is now using the anti corruption policy to contrive charges against those they want to use to advance certain political objectives.

The former Vice President said he was impressed with the appointment of Abdul Rasheed Bawa as EFCC chairman, but advised him to learn from the mistakes of his predecessors.

He reminded Bawa that his success will inevitably be determined by Nigerians and not by the government of the day and the ruling party.

“As a young man of great intellect and confidence, I’m confident that you are equal to the task. You must be ready to restore the glory of the EFCC by changing its public perception as a political tool of the government in power. Let your conscience and history judge you. But you can only do so if you resist external manipulation. May Allah guide you aright”, Atiku told Bawa.