Senate President Godswill Akpabio has shared details of his ordeal during the Senate’s confirmation of Olu Olukayode and Mohammed Hamajoda as Chairman and Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Akpabio’s revelation took place during discussions about the Senate’s plan to review the EFCC Act, emphasising the need to strengthen the agency and make it more effective.
Akpabio voiced concerns about the EFCC’s functions, describing it as more of a persecuting agency than a prosecution agency.
He elaborated on a personal experience involving a frivolous petition against him, which was written by political opponents in the run-up to the 2023 general elections.
Senator Akpabio stated that he responded to the baseless petition by refusing to address it.
However, his private response was leaked to the online news platform Sahara Reporters by the former EFCC Chairman.
“The reality is that I think that EFCC has focused more on sensation than on real investigation.
“For me, I have had my own share. It was even a letter informing the EFCC that I wouldn’t be able to come on a frivolous petition, and that letter was released by the office of the EFCC Chairman to Sahara reporters.
“You will see the Chairman’s stamp on it. He released it to Sahara reporters just to embarrass me because of the 2023 elections, but to the glory of God, I surmounted it. I am here.”
“I don’t want to comment on EFCC. We have the gavel in this R chamber, and we will amend the EFCC Act to strengthen it and make the agency more effective,” said Akpabio during the Senate session.
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