By: Comrade Ismael Taiwo,
Former PRO, NANS Oyo State.
The intrigues behind the continuous incarceration of the suspended Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa no longer new to the discerning minds as it has become a norm and usual style adopted by successive governments to oust the Anti-Graft Agency Czar who is found not to be in their good book especially when such has their cronies in the watchlist.
Bawa, before his removal faced alot of onslaught and series of unfounded allegations carefully orchestrated by those who have their hands soiled in corrupt activities, these attacks vis-a-vis innuendos that trailed weeks to his suspension should not be a surprise to the students of history as it has been a usual norm and tactics deployed by people loyal to successive new administration to boot out every chairman of the Anti-Graft Agency whenever transition of power beckons.
Corruption fight is the most difficult task to be carried out especially in this country of ours, where corrupt practices hold sway on a large scale, and as such the actors in these dastardly acts fight nail and tooth to get away with their corrupt cases, the usual say, “corruption fighting back” validates the claim of the difficult task.
The EFCC since its creation in 2004 has suffered alot of onslaughts by those who think they are above the laws of the land and as such they can continue to pillage the resources of our country without having questions to answer.
It is however sad that we continue to weaken our institutions on the alter of political vendetta. An important agency like EFCC should not be left at the behest of corrupt people to determine its fate. The political actors, since the creation of the agency, have successfully had their way by showing an exit door to its successive chairmen through the political manipulation of Villa boys.
Bawa was suspended through a letter communicated by the Secretary to the Government of Federation over what it termed as a “weighty allegation” as quoted in the letter.
Immediately after his suspension, he was invited by the Department of State Services and since then he has been in detention for more than a month without charging him to Court or making known the allegations leveled against him.
It should perturb sensible minds that someone who was suspended on the basis of “weighty allegations” has not been charged for more than a month. The DSS has again in its usual oppressive style turned itself to a tool in the hands of politicians used to launch their misiles on those not in their good book. It is laughable, that after a month of his suspension, DSS is still looking for its usual trump-up charges to nail him as the case of the twisted allegation of ‘possession of firearm’ leveled against ex-CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Where then the veracity of the claim of “weighty allegations” claimed in the Bawa’s suspension letter if after a month DSS is still looking out for what to be used to nail him? This is nothing but a political vendetta and a means to pave way for those who have corrupt cases hanging on their necks.
It was also in the news that few days after Bawa’s suspension, the DSS invaded EFCC allegedly to cart away files of those under corruption probe. DSS has left no doubt that its action in flagrant disobedience to law is a corroboration to the insinuations flying around that after Bawa’s suspension, corrupt politicians have been canonized while he is being incarcerated.
Bringing you back to memory lane, Nuhu Ribadu was the first Chairman of the body and recorded some successes in the fight against corruption but these successes did not go well with those who thought they would be shielded from their corrupt practices. This necessitated their gang-ups and towards the transition time, they succeeded in booting him out having succumbed to their whims and caprices.
This same fate happened to Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Lamorde and in recent times, the media space was awash how the previous chairman of the body, Ibrahim Magu was unceremoniously booted out of office on the investigation that no one could ascertain the veracity of the outcome till today.
In as much as I believe that he who comes with equity must come with clean hands, however, as a country who wants to get rid of corrupt practices, we must learn to always protect our institutions from usual attacks by those who think they own the country. It is saddened that corruption has become a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our nation, if not, how on earth would suspects who supposed to be in sober mood and clear imagination of what would happen to them as the consequences of their misdeeds and corrupt practices would be celebrated while the institution probing them continues to be weakened, it has now become a case of corrupt people been emboldened to freely walk and launch attacks on the agency that is probing them.
Bawa should either be released or charged to Court as his continuous detention is a violation of his fundamental human rights. We are not in a banana republic where rules of law would be flagrantly disregarded, we have laws that guide us as a nation and such DSS is a creation of law and should be guided within the ambit of laws.
The civil society groups and human right activists must therefore rise up in defense of our laws and speak up against the abuse of fundamental human rights of the duo of Bawa and Emefiele.
Tinubu starting his administration with political vendetta will be antithetical to the principles of democracy. The war against corruption must continue and no matter how difficult it seems to be, Nigeria will be fully sanitized one day.
Comrade Ismael Taiwo, Former PRO, NANS, Oyo State.