The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will
reportedly on Monday, October 12, begin to investigate petitions written
against President Muhammadu Buhari’s 21 ministerial nominees.
The Punch learnt that a decision was taken by the leadership of the
anti-graft agency last week to start the process of considering
petitions forwarded to the National Assembly against the ministerial
nominees.
At least 25 petitions had been submitted against the nominees at the
Senate. The copies of petitions were reportedly sent to the EFCC and the
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Senate leadership had allegedly contacted the EFCC last week to
help with those petitions, a source privy to the development said on
condition of anonymity.
The source, who is a top official at the EFCC, said it was not
possible for the National Assembly to carry out the investigation into
the petitions against the nominees without involving the anti-graft
agencies.
The spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he did not know
anything about the commission’s involvement in the screening exercise at
the National Assembly.
Also, the resident consultant on media and events of the ICPC, Folu
Olamiti, said he would neither confirm nor deny the involvement of the
commission in the investigation of the allegations contained in the
petitions.
Similarly, the Code of Conduct Bureau had also said the nominees were bound to declare their assets before the Senate.
The Senate had stated that as part of its guidelines for screening
the ministerial nominees due to commence on Tuesday, each of the
nominees would be required to produce evidence of assets declaration to
the bureau. Details
