EFCC not living up to expectations – Umar Duhu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been accused of
not living up to expectations in the anti-graft war, Umar Duhu, a
chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Adamawa State, has
said.

Duhu, a former Vice Chairman, North-East, of the APC, made the
accusation on Thursday over the agency’s inability to prosecute the
sacked former Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Babachir Lawal, over the grass-cutting contract scandal.

Reacting to a statement made by the ex-SGF about internal
politics in his home state of Adamawa, where he told the national
leadership of the APC to replace Governor, Mohammed Jibrilla as the
governorship candidate of the party or risk losing the 2019
elections, Duhu blamed the EFCC for Lawal’s outburst.

He said if the EFCC had heeded the President’s directive to the
anti-graft agency to prosecute Babachir, after relieving him of his
post, the ‘shameless corrupt political official’ wouldn’t be
alluding the victory in the forthcoming general elections to
another party.

He said Lawal’s comment on the party losing the 2019
governorship election in the state was tantamount to committing
anti-party activities.

He said as a party chieftain, once the party’s convention was
concluded, it behoves on all party members to support the
candidates fielded by the party.

He, however, expressed surprise that Lawal, especially with his
exposure, had yet to see wisdom in supporting the state governor as
candidate of the APC in the state.

“It beats my imagination if somebody at the level of Mr Babachir
Lawal, who was the second national vice chairman of this party who
took over from me and was even appointed the Secretary of the
Government of the Federation, will descend so low to say APC will
lose Adamawa State if Bindow is fielded as candidate of the APC.
This is presposterous, sad and I feel I owe it a duty to reply Mr
Lawal in the circumstances that is deserving of him.

“I want to call the attention of Nigerians, that Ibrahim Magu,
the Chairman of the EFCC, is definitely not living up to the
expectations of Nigerians.”

But when asked whether his comments inferred that the
anti-corruption war being prosecuted by the APC-led administration
had failed, Duhu said the President was not to blame. He said Magu
appeared to have refused to heed the President’s directive.

“Mr President has expressly directed the anti-graft agency to
prosecute Babachir for graft allegations. If Mr Magu in any way has
refused to prosecute Mr. Babachir , then there’s something suspect
about this.”