The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned politicians to refrain from using the EFCC for campaign purposes.
The commission also dismissed claims by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that he is being harassed for political reasons.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, the EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, stressed that the commission operates independently and without political bias.
According to him, the EFCC has remained non-partisan since its establishment and does not act at the direction of any political office holder.
NEWSNGR reports that Mohammed had alleged that he was being targeted by the EFCC because he refused to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He also questioned the arrest of his Finance Commissioner, whom he said had no case to answer.
Reacting, Uwujaren said such allegations were unfounded, stressing that politics has no place in the commission’s work.
“In the last 20 years, the EFCC has never shown political bias in the discharge of its duties. Politics has no business or place when it comes to the work of the EFCC,” he said.
Uwujaren described the governor’s claims as reckless, particularly the allegation that the commission was acting on the instructions of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“With due respect to His Excellency, it was a little bit reckless to make that kind of allegation, especially the claim that the commission is acting at the behest of the FCT minister. That was quite derogatory,” he said.
He clarified that constitutional immunity does not prevent the investigation of serving public office holders.
“Governor Bala Mohammed has immunity under the constitution, but immunity does not stop law enforcement from investigating a governor, or even the president and vice president.
“There is no law that says the EFCC cannot investigate Bala Mohammed or that a charge cannot mention the name of a serving governor. We are not persecuting him,” he added.
He further reiterated that the EFCC does not take instructions from politicians and warned against using the commission as a campaign tool.
“Politicians should leave the EFCC out of their campaigns. Do not drag the commission into politics because we do not want to be there,” he said.
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