2 hours ago
1
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has rejected allegations by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that it is being used by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other political actors to persecute him for refusing to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The anti-graft agency’s response follows the December 31, 2025 arraignment of Bauchi State Finance Commissioner, Yakubu Adamu, and three others over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering involving $9.7 million in state funds reportedly approved by the governor.
In a statement issued on Friday, the EFCC described Mohammed’s claims as “wild” and “far-fetched,” insisting it operates independently and without political influence.
“The Commission is non-partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will,” the statement said, warning that portraying the EFCC as a tool of political interests was “mischievous and condemnable”.
The anti-graft agency dismissed suggestions that Wike or any political office holder could influence its investigations, describing such claims “derogatory” and misleading.
The EFCC also pointed out that Mohammed himself had faced money laundering charges before becoming governor, noting that only constitutional immunity has stalled that case.
“Who influenced the Commission to investigate and charge him in 2016?” it asked.
According to the EFCC, the evidence against some Bauchi State officials is already before the court, and Nigerians can judge for themselves whether the case is driven by vendetta or by “painstaking investigation”.
It added that Mohammed’s name appears in the charge because he was the approving authority for the transactions in question.
The agency warned against trivializing terrorism financing allegations, stressing that it is bound to enforce existing laws wherever violations occur.
“It is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to cry persecution whenever one of their own is investigated, yet remain silent when members of the ruling party are charged,” the statement said, noting that the EFCC recently arraigned a senior figure within the ruling party without similar protests.
The Commission urgrd Governor Mohammed to focus on governing Bauchi State and allow it to carry out its mandate of sanitizing Nigeria’s financial system.
‘We’re not going after opposition’ – EFCC fires back at Bala Mohammed
