Pressure is increasing on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to launch an investigation into officials who held positions under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In a recent development, prominent human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi publicly appealed to the EFCC for a comprehensive audit of financial transactions involving all officials who served during Buhari’s tenure.
This call comes amid revelations stemming from the ongoing trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who is currently facing allegations of involvement in a $6.2 million fraud case linked to the previous presidential election.
Olajengbesi praised the EFCC for uncovering the alleged forgery of Buhari’s signature as well as that of the former Secretary-General of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in connection with the case. The human rights lawyer emphasized the necessity of curbing the impunity of those in positions of authority and addressing their criminal influence.
He urged the EFCC not to confine its investigations solely to Emefiele but to expand them to include all key figures who served under the Buhari administration.
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Olajengbesi underscored the significance of establishing deterrents for such misconduct and advocated for a thorough audit to ensure transparency and accountability.
His words: “The EFCC must not stop at just the former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele but should carry out an entire audit of principal actors who served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. There should be a deterrent for bad behaviour.
“Again, the case of the suspended Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmad Salihijo, over alleged N1.2bn fraud is fresh and a pointer to the gross abuse of power by those who served under Buhari.
“Emefiele and all those who served under the Buhari administration should be properly audited and given a chance to clear their names, as the corruption that manifested under that government is gargantuan.”
