EFCC lambasts NBA President
for demanding limitation of its
powers.
 |
| Abu Bakar Mahmoud |
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has lambasted the newly-sworn in National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, for suggesting limitation of the commission’s powers.
The commission, in a strongly worded statement by its Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, described the suggestion, which Mahmoud made at his inauguration on Friday, as self-serving and meant to protect a cabal of untouchables who could only be investigated but never prosecuted for corruption.
Wilson said: “The EFCC appreciates the NBA’s acknowledgement of the Commission’s strategic place in the fight against corruption in Nigeria and the modest achievements that it has recorded so far. It also welcomes the suggestion for reform.
“As the Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, has repeatedly started in his public pronouncements, the agency is open to suggestions that will improve its operations as it cannot pretend to have a monopoly of ideas on how to fight corruption.
“Nevertheless, the Commission views with concern, the call by the NBA president that the EFCC be stripped of its prosecutorial powers. The Commission’s discomfort over this seemingly innocuous proposition, stems from the fact that Mahmoud was silent on the reason for his position.
“More importantly, the Commission cannot comprehend how the redefinition of EFCC’s mandate in narrow terms, ultimately whittling it down, fits into the clamour by Nigerians and the vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for a vibrant and courageous anti-corruption agency.
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