The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday, said that it would investigate allegations of corrupt enrichment against former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Head, General Investigations of the commission, Mr. Umar Sanda, stated this while receiving a petition brought to the agency, by a group, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders.
Sanda, who represented the Chairman of the commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, also called on Nigerians not to hesitate to expose corrupt people in the society.
He said, “We will like to encourage all Nigerians in the country and beyond, that if they have anything against anybody, no matter how highly placed, we will like to assure you that that we will do everything within our powers to ensure that we stop this type of menace in the society.
“It is just unfortunate that members of this group came without informing us that they were coming. If they had done that, I can assure you that the chairman of this agency would have organised a reception for them.
“But what happened was an unfortunate thing because there was a communication gap.
“But I can also assure you that the chairman of the EFCC will also investigate any petition against any Nigerian who has been accused of corruption.
“We have received this petition and I can assure you that we will do our best to make sure that the best was done on it.
“We will also encourage all Nigerians to come forward and expose all corrupt persons around them. That is the only way we will know that such a fellow is corrupt.”
The group, in a three-page petition, accused Obasanjo of using his eight-year reign in office, to corruptly enrich himself, to the detriment of the generality of the Nigerians.
It, therefore, asked the EFCC to look into how Obasanjo raised money to revive his Temperance Farm in Ota and to engage in a massive construction work at the Bells University of Technology, Badagry, Lagos State.
The group also wants the EFCC to investigate the fund-raiser for the former President’s controversial library project in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as well as the management of the funds of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.
It said,“The Ad hoc Committee on the operation of the PTDF gave a verdict in February 2007, indicting the former President of gross financial mismanagement and corruption.
“The chairman of the panel, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), said that the former President issued public funds for the prosecution of his third term bid and supervised the diversion of public funds which were illegally deposited in banks”
The chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said, “We strongly wish to see you and the EFCC take appropriate legal action against the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, if it is found, as we certainly know, that his wealth was acquired through foul, deceitful and immoral means.
“His management of the affairs of the Nigerian state, both administrative and financial, left room to suspect financial recklessness…”
Before the group submitted its petition, there was a mild drama at the gates of the agency’s office on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, when security guards did not want CACOL members to enter the premises.
The group had marched from the Falomo to the EFCC office.
The drama lasted for about 20 minutes before Sanda and other senior officers of the commission ordered that the gate be opened.
Sanda later apologised to the group and journalists. He described the incident as a failure of communication.
By Geoffrey Ekenna
The Punch
Thursday, November 15, 2007
