EFCC raises alarm, says corrupt governors and politicians are planning to run away before May 29

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alerted the general public of the alleged move by some governors and other politicians accused of corruption to flee the country ahead of the May 29 handover.

The spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, raised the alarm in a statement issued on Friday, May 19, 2023.

The commission revealed that it is currently collaborating with its international partners to ensure such moves are frustrated.

The commission vowed that all political actors involved in corruption while in public office must be brought to justice.

The statement reads partly, “Again, the Commission wishes to alert the public about plans by some of the alleged corrupt politically exposed persons to flee the country ahead of May 29.

“The Commission is working in close collaboration with its international partners to frustrate these escape plans and bring those involved to justice.”

Similarly, the EFCC has tackled the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle for alleging that the chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa demanded a two million dollars bribe from him.

The governor who is under investigation over alleged corruption, had during an interview with BBC Hausa, insisted that the chairman of the anti-graft agency could not be trusted.

The governor said he was being investigated because he refused to “offer the EFCC chairperson the money he requested from him.”

However, in a rebuttal of the governor’s allegations, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement on Friday night, said Matawalle cannot be taken seriously because he has no evidence against Bawa.

The statement reads,

“Matawalle’s recourse to mudslinging is symptomatic of a drowning man clutching at straws.

“But despite the irritation of his phantom claims, the Commission will not be drawn into a mud fight with a suspect under its investigation for corruption and unconscionable pillage of the resources of his state.

“If Matawalle will be taken seriously, he should go beyond sabre-rattling by spilling the beans by providing concrete evidence as proof of his allegations”.