Friday Olokor
27 March 2008
Lagos — ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation into the alleged misappropriation of public funds levelled against former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
EFCC's Head of General Investigation, Mr. Sanda Umaru who said this yesterday in Lagos explained that though the pace of investigation may appear slow, justice would be done on the issue ultimately.
His position on Obasanjo is in contrast with the stand of the commission's spokesman, Mr. Ositah Nwajah.
Recently, Nwajah told Daily Champion that nothing about misappropriation of money by Obasanjo has been brought to the notice of the commission.
However, addressing members of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) protesting delay in the prosecution of Obasanjo, Umaru said the former president was under investigation.
The group had last November submitted a petition to the commission seeking a thorough probe of Obasanjo's regime between 1999 and 2007. It had earlier submitted same to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
But after a protest march from CMS bus stop to the EFCC liaison office in Ikoyi, Lagos Umaru told the chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran and his supporters that the commission would not spare anybody found to have been involved in corrupt practices.
"We are fighting and championing the same cause. We received your letter and I will like to assure you that it is a good thing that you are supporting in this noble agitation to rid Nigeria of bad eggs. You are in haste to get result quickly. We are on it. We are investigating Obasanjo. We have to take our own pace," he said.
He said although the pace might appear slow the commision would carry out a thorough investigation using the key element of prudence and professionalism.
Umaru said he could not disclose details of EFCC's investigation of Obasanjo and other corrupt leaders in the full glare of anxious jounalists.
Adeniran was thereafter led into the EFCC headquarters by a team of policemen where he had a chat with Umaru and others behind closed door.
Later he told newsmen that the EFCC has promised to speed up probe of Obasanjo.
"The EFCC said they would speed up the probe of Obasanjo's regime. They said there are certain impediments and technicalities militating against the probe. We are however, not satisfied with their explanation," Adeniran said.
he urged President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to immediately investigate Obasanjo who, he said "is the accounting officer in that regime."
Accusing Obasanjo of wasting over $16 billion appropriated to the energy sector, he said if the former president is not probed, the anti-corruption crusade of government will be an ordinary farce.
Adeniran however commended President Yar'Adua for the sanity he has brought into the ministry of health by sacking Professor Adenike Grange and Aduku, minister of health and ministers of state for health respectively.
He said that despite the huge sums of money appopriated to the energy sector, nothing appears to be functioning there.
Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: "Obasanjo must be probed," "EFCC, try Obasanjo;" "There is no fairness until Obasanjo is probed" and CACOL + EFCC = Good Governance.
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