CITIZENS COMPASS – A non-governmental organisation, Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCR), has taken a swipe at the Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Transparency and Accountability Network for accusing the Federal Government of interference in the suit filed by the Kogi State Government and 14 other States against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Recall that the Kogi State government and 18 other states filed a suit at the Supreme Court to challenge the legality of the EFCC.
The statement, which was reportedly signed by CD’s Ifeanyi Odili and TAN’s Dapo Oluwole, alleged that the Federal Government was interfering with the hearing of the suit slated for hearing at the Supreme Court.
However, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by VCR’s Head of Mission, Onche Ugbabe, the group said it was saddening that some supposed civil society organisations could make such a wild allegation without any proof or details.
The statement reads: “It is baffling, saddening and indeed worrisome that an organisation that was co-founded by the late patriot, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti could join forces with those seeking to frustrate and emasculate the anti-corruption fight of the present administration. Indeed, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti would be turning in his grave to see what has become of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) today.
“All their sophistry did not do much in hiding the real import of their ill-thought press statement. If CD and TAN were really civil society organisations worth the appellation, how come they never spoke against the antics of the Kogi State government and its officials; both serving and past, in frustrating the anti-graft war? Why have they suddenly woken up from their slumber only to weigh in on the side of those seeking to literally kill the EFCC?
“The only reason that they gave as the premise for the wild claim about the alleged interference and pressure was that the Federal Government filed some preliminary objections to the suit. How does that amount to pressure or intimidation of any sort? If their sponsors have a good legal team, they should reply on points of law to the preliminary objection and let the Supreme Court decide instead of resorting to cheap blackmail of the Federal Government and the apex court. Or how would a plaintiff think that once he makes a claim, the Defendant should not respond?
“The point that has been made very eloquently by an erudite lawyer and one of the fathers of the civil society movement in Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) is that the Supreme Court had in the past severally decided on the legality of the EFCC. If that is the case, then it is a very good strategy for the Federal Government to make past decisions of the apex court the basis of its preliminary objection.”
The group urged all well-meaning Nigerians to rally round the EFCC and support the Federal Government in its efforts to rid the country of corruption and engender development.
