A group representing young Nigerians has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to maintain focus on its duty to curb financial misconduct by public officials. This appeal follows accusations by prominent opposition figures that the presidency is misusing the commission to target individuals outside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The Nigerian presidency had previously dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was undermining the nation’s multi-party democracy and using anti-corruption agencies for political gain, labeling the accusations as unfounded and politically motivated. Similarly, the youth organization, known as the Coalition of Young Nigerians for the Soul of Our Future, expressed concern that corrupt politicians are increasingly using the media to manipulate public perception and generate sympathy. In a statement signed by its coordinator, Kimberly Saviour Gift, the coalition voiced alarm over attempts by politically exposed individuals to leverage media sentiment against lawful anti-corruption procedures. According to the coalition, this is a familiar and worrying pattern where public officials accumulate vast wealth during or after their time in office, and when facing accountability, they resort to emotional appeals, selective information, and even factual misrepresentation to present themselves as victims of harassment. The coalition asserted that this deliberate strategy is designed to weaken institutions, distract investigators, and postpone accountability, declaring the practice as dangerous and unacceptable. The group further stated that recent public discussions concerning the EFCC’s operations exemplify this manipulative approach. They clarified that facts made public by the Commission demonstrate that administrative bail is a conditional, temporary privilege, not an automatic right, and if the conditions attached to the bail are not met, there is legally no effective bail to revoke. The coalition stressed that the EFCC’s administrative bail requirements are unambiguous, demanding two trustworthy sureties who are serving Permanent Secretaries in Federal Ministries in Abuja, who must provide specified documents including appointment and promotion letters, official identity cards, NINs, recent pay slips, and letters of introduction from their employers. Additionally, the sureties must own landed property in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) with valid Certificates of Occupancy, and the suspect must surrender all international passports to the Commission and report regularly until the case is finalized. In the specific case mentioned, the coalition noted that provisional administrative bail was granted after questioning, subject to these clear conditions, which were acknowledged and signed but remain unfulfilled. They added that despite the lack of medical reports or verifiable documentation, the Commission humanely granted requests for delay based on claims of ill health and adjusted investigative timelines in good faith, but meaningful cooperation did not ensue. The group described attempts to characterize lawful investigative actions as political persecution as troubling, asserting that such claims are misleading and erode public trust, especially when made by individuals who once held high legal office and are aware of the legal implications of administrative bail. They suggested that what is occurring reflects a disturbing wider trend where certain political figures believe they can accumulate suspicious wealth, avoid or delay investigation, and use public sympathy, identity politics, or manufactured popularity to frustrate enforcement, often deploying empowerment programs, strategic philanthropy, and aggressive media campaigns as preemptive shields against being held accountable. The coalition urged the EFCC not to be deterred, distracted, or intimidated by public outcry or sentiment, insisting that investigations must be based strictly on evidence, lawful cooperation, and adherence to due process. They stressed that if conditions are not met, enforcement must follow, and where evidence supports prosecution, consequences must be pursued completely. The group also called on the media and the public to use discretion, demanding that journalism must challenge claims rather than uncritically amplify them, and civil society must demand facts over emotions. They concluded that accountability cannot be suspended because a suspect is powerful, popular, or vocal, and Nigeria’s future cannot be sacrificed for illicit funds, distorted narratives, or institutional blackmail. Finally, they told the EFCC to maintain its course, follow the money, and enforce the law, asserting that history will look favorably upon institutions that stood firm against manipulation.
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