Nigeria’s anti-graft commission the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told Nigerians that in spite of overwhelming video evidence (six videos) it cannot pursue the investigation and prosecution of Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for corruption and fraud quite unlike what the commission to the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose.
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A record six videos has been circulating in the Nigerian media for weeks showing Ganduje Abdullahi receiving stacks of dollars as bribe from a local contractor.
While the video evidence caused outrage among Nigerians, the silence of the EFCC and its sister agency the ICPC as well as the Nigeria Police has been deafening.
Causing further outrage were several court orders restraining the Kano State House of Assembly from prosecuting the State Governor in spite of testimonies by the publisher of the videos, Mr. Jafar jafar before the state assembly, further implicating Ganduje in the bribery scandal.
While the dust had not yet settled on the pronouncements of the Court, President Buhari who is seeking a second term in Office heaped praises on the embattled Governor who has refused to clear his name properly or answer allegations of bribery against him other than deny that it ever happened and the videos were doctored contrary to available evidence.
Buhari described Ganduje as a responsible fellow among his peers while addressing Nigerian students in Paris.
According to the EFCC, it has turned a blind eye to the allegations because Ganduje enjoys immunity from investigation and prosecution as a sitting Governor of Kano State.
The EFCC said through its official Twitter handle, @OfficialEFCC that;
“The governor is still serving and constitutionally is covered by immunity. Being that as it may, the matter is in the instance sub judice.”
Nigerians however faulted the commission for the statement, reminding it that it carried out the investigation on former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State while he was still in office.
Nigerians further reminded the commission that, it froze Fayose’s accounts and sealed off several assets while Fayose was still a sitting governor.
The commission had also threatened to arrest him on social media whenever his tenure expired as Governor, saying they had concluded investigations and were waiting for him.
While Fayose was also governor, his aides and close allies in Ekiti state were arrested by the EFCC in connection with allegations of fraud involving the ex-governor while he was still governor.
The EFCC however said;
“The EFCC normally doesn’t give out information on investigations. Investigation of anyone for an alleged fraud remains a covert process.”
The EFCC had last week skipped questions when asked its position on the trending videos when the acting chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Magu, celebrated 3 years in office.