The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the delay by the Federal Government in arraigning the former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, over allegations of fraud is raising public apprehension over the integrity of the fight against corruption in the country.
The party said the delay is heightening suspicion in the public space over alleged attempt to give Magu a soft landing in order to cover up for certain top officials of the administration as well as some leaders alleged to have been indicted by the suspended EFCC chairman, in the course of his investigation by the Presidential Panel.
In a statement on Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party predicated its position on conflicting reports on the status of the processes relating to Magu’s on-going investigations and the direction of the Federal Government on the matter.
The statement said in part, “Our party holds that where there are no undesirable underhand dealings, any government that is committed to the fight against corruption, in such a manner that the Buhari Presidency wants the world to believe it does, should have since perfected its processes and arraign the suspended EFCC acting Chairman in court, particularly with the weight of allegations and revelations unearthed at the Presidential panel.
“The fact is that the allegations of fraud, including alleged stealing of billions of naira recovered by the EFCC among other accusations, which also include alleged transfer of stolen money to certain government officials, are already in the public domain.
“The expectation of Nigerians therefore is for the Federal Government to immediately arraign Magu before a court of competent jurisdiction and prosecute him in line with the dictates of our laws.”
The PDP further stated that Nigerians are apprehensive that the EFCC investigation might go the way of the huge cover up in the handling of cases of alleged unbridled treasury looting in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among others were indicted officials were given a pat on the wrist without prosecution.
“Our party charges the Buhari Presidency to note that the world is watching the handling of the EFCC fraud case with keen interest. The Federal Government should therefore take immediate steps to arraign Magu and all those indicted in the matter before a court of competent jurisdiction without any further delay.”