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Stakeholders Charge EFCC Chair, Bawa To Resist Political Interference, Knock FG For Neglecting Corruption Reports

Published

6 years ago

March 5, 2021

Joel Ajayi

Heads of renowned investigative news organizations have berated the federal government and anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria over the neglect of investigative corruption reports by various media organizations.

The Director of Daily Trust Foundation, Dr. Theophilus Abba led criticisms during a radio program, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.

While expressing his dissatisfaction on the way and manner corruption stories are swept under the carpet by the past and present governments, Abba stressed that the constitution empowered journalists to hold government accountable but emphasized that the responsibility solely lies with the government and anti-corruption agencies to ensure culprits are brought to book as soon as investigative corruption reports are published.

He revealed that his organization unearthed uncountable corruption in the course of their investigation and wondered why the government will not go after individuals who misuse public funds.

“How can government put in a minimum of N30 million into a healthcare project and at the end of the day, it is either not completed or abandoned and the people who are supposed benefit from this project don’t access healthcare and no one is punished.”

On the appointment of 40year-old Abdulrasheed Bawa as new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abba urged the new helmsman to do better investigation to avoid unnecessary embarrassment to the commission, adding that “it is not the age of the EFCC Chairman that matters but his values and ability to resist to be ruined by those who brought him into the position.”

The Chief Executive Officer OF Sahara Reporters, OMOYELE SOWORE stated that government reluctance in acting on corruption investigations was because politically exposed Nigerians are usually indicted in their reports.

According to Sowore, corruption investigations done by Sahara Reporters alone are enough ammunition to put away many corrupt officials if Nigerian government was genuinely fighting corruption.

“There is a difference between fighting corruption and using corruption to fight enemies of government. There is also in some cases where they use the fighting against corruption to confuse the fight against corruption.

“you can imagine if when we exposed Gen Buratai he was immediately removed and persecuted, we wouldn’t have lost many lives in Maiduguri, Borno State and other states because of his incompetence to curtail corruption.”

On the newly appointment of Bawa as EFCC Chairman, He said: “I don’t see how Abdulrasheed Bawa can cover much ground no matter how good he might be when he was brought into that position by the Attorney General of the Federation, and I don’t see how Bawa can go anywhere because he will need to go through these guys,” Sowore stated.

On his part, Executive Director of ‎International Center for Investigative Reporting, Dayo Aiyetan averred that from his organization’s experience the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is not ready to fight corruption, lamenting that impunity has gained more ground this time.

Aiyetan stressed that the existence of a ghost Chief Economic Adviser under the nose of President Buhari where millions of naira have been approved over the years was a clear sign of lack of seriousness in the fight against corruption.

He also revealed that many Nigerians exposed of stealing from government coffers by ICIR in the past are currently in the National Assembly and maintained that the media is vital in nation building anti-corruption war and called on the EFCC Chairman to do all within his power to resist political interference.

Aiyetan stated that one of the significant hindrances to fighting corruption and impunity in Nigeria is lack of assets forfeiture law.

” Government officials who are stealing public funds use the instrument of state institutions to prevent themselves from being brought to justice. Let the National Assembly come up with an asset forfeiture law, that will be a huge disincentive to stealing public funds,” Aiyetan advised.

While the Chief Executive Officer of TheCable, SIMON KOLAWOLE noted that the inability of the government and anti-graft agencies to take action against officials indicted in investigative corruption reports is tough and demoralizing for journalists, lamenting that out of ten stories published the government may likely react to just one.

Kolawole, however, warned EFCC Chairman, Bawa to avoid media trial because it was making mockery of the Commission’s mandate and charged him to go after corrupt officials in the present government.

The syndicated radio program is produced by PRIMORG with the support from the MACARTHUR FOUNDATION.

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News

Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12

Published

20 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.

In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.

Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.

“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.

Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.

“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.

Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.

“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.

“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.

Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.

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