CSOs Tackle AGF Over EFCC, Other Anti-Graft Agencies

Hundreds of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country have kicked against what they described as a deliberate attempt by the Federal Government to disrespect the Nigerian constitution and destroy the principles of federalism, using illegally constituted anti-graft agencies.

The CSOs, numbering about 200, said the attempt by the Federal Government to frustrate the hearing of the case instituted by 19 state governments, challenging the constitutionality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and two others, was an indication that the government was aware of the illegality of the antigraft agencies and was trying to put pressure on the Supreme Court.

In a statement yesterday by Ifeanyi Odili, president, Campaign for Democracy and Dr. Dapo Oluwole, of the Transparency and Accountability Network, TAN, the activists faulted the Federal Government’s alleged pressure on the Supreme Court to dismiss a valid case, noting that they were fully in support of the fight against corruption, but would not support the shenanigans of agencies working against the success of anti-graft efforts.

To them, the objections raised by the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) in its application had no bearing with the case at hand because it did not address the issue at stake constitutionality.

They called on the judiciary to ignore harassment and intimidation by the executive at the centre, saying a situation where successive administrations perceived the EFCC, in particular, as a tool for intimidation must stop in the interest of true federalism.

According to them, this is the reason corruption has continued to fester rather than reduce. The statement reads in part; “We, as a group of civil society organisations across Nigeria have deemed it fit to also intervene in the current debate and litigations regarding the constitutionality or otherwise of the establishment of the EFCC, NFIU, ICPC, etc.