The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday explained why it is yet to launch investigations against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State who was accused of receiving millions of dollars in bribe.
“The governor is still serving and constitutionally is covered by immunity. Being that as it may, the matter is in the instance sub judice,” the EFCC posted from its Twitter handle Thursday, during a tweet meet organised by Tap Nitiative for Citizens Development, a public accountability think-tank.
Ganduje has been dogged by public scorn since videos appearing to show him engaging in brazen contract racketeering started appearing online in October. At least six of such videos have been published since the first clip was released on October 11.
Daily Nigerian, an online-based publication, said it has up to 15 of such videos of Ganduje. The governor could be seen receiving wads of United States dollars from persons believed to be public works contractors.
When Tap Nitiative demanded further explanation because the EFCC moved against Ayo Fayose while he was the governor of Ekiti State, the anti-graft office said it does not usually “give out information on investigations.”
“Investigation of anyone for an alleged fraud remains a covert process,” the EFCC added.
Recall that the videos were recorded in 2017 in what Daily Nigerian described as a sting operation aimed at beaming the spotlight on the governor’s alleged penchant for contract racketeering.
The governor has dismissed the videos as “cloned” and filed a lawsuit against the publisher of the online newspaper, Jaafar Jaafar.
The Kano House of Assembly which initially initiated a probe into the allegations and invited Daily Nigerian suspended the process on Monday in deference to a court ruling over a suit to stop the probe.
Today’s comments from the EFCC marked the third time the agency would wave Ganduje’s scandal, in defiance of demands from Nigerians that the matter be urgently probed to show the EFCC is independent and unbiased.
