The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission not to take sides with any political party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Arkwright also called on the EFCC to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that there is no vote buying.
The UK envoy said this when he visited the corporate headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja.
He stated that INEC and EFCC should be there to preserve the integrity of the political process, including taking forward investigations without any prejudice on one side or the other, following the evidence and taking action where it is justified.
Arkwright further gave assurances of the British Government’s support “both in technical assistance, in investigation and of course broadening support of this great independent institution of the EFCC.”
The high commissioner commended the ant-graft agency for its recent achievements in tackling corruption.
In his remarks, the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, appreciated the British Government for its support, and assured him of the independence of the EFCC in the discharge of its mandate.
Magu also said,that they do not invite anybody here if he/she is not found to be involved in one offence or crime and that is why when they come here, it takes a lot of efforts to be off the chain. Whatever case that comes to the EFCC is investigated to a logical conclusion. We take the case to court which gives the final decision.”
Meanwhile, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum will on Friday meet to discuss critical national issues, including its demand for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu.
The Joint Secretary of the forum, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who disclosed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, said the leaders would not back down on their demand for the removal of Yakubu and the service chiefs before the 2019 elections.
The SMBLF, had at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to remove the INEC chairman and the service chiefs.
The forum had said that there were “accumulated indications” that he might rig the 2019 elections in favour of Buhari.
Odumakin, in the interview with our correspondent, said that the four geopolitical zones that constituted the forum had no confidence in Yakubu.
The forum observed that the alleged violence that attended the congresses of the ruling All Progressives Congress was an indication that the election might be turbulent.
The forum, according to Odumakin, had learnt that foreigners including Nigeriens were being registered by INEC to vote in 2019, adding that the electoral commission had refused to release the report of its findings into underage voting in Kano.
Efforts to get a response from INEC on the alleged registration of foreigners proved abortive as the Director for Publicity and Voter Education, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, neither responded to three telephone calls nor to a text message on Wednesday.
Explaining the concern of the SMBLF, the secretary, Odumakin, stated, “Even the way the APC has been conducting its congresses does not give us confidence that they will conduct credible polls. They are killing people in their own party, what will they do when they face the opposition?
Source: Punch ng
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