Arms Probe: EFCC Denies Engaging in Illegal Activity

•Calls for presidential probe

By Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied that any of its officials is connected with the case involving a member of the Arms Probe Committee, Air Commodore Umar Muhammed (rtd.), who is said to have been arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) for alleged fraud.

The Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, debunked the allegations that Muhammed is “fronting for some members of the committee”, including “high ranking officials in the EFCC and ONSA”.

Uwujaren said that even though “the report falls short of naming the so-called officials that Muhammed is allegedly fronting for, it is common knowledge that the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, is the only member of the Arms Procurement Committee from the Commission”.

According to him, the EFCC views with grave concern the “spirited attempt to create doubts in the minds of less discerning Nigerians and member of the international community regarding the integrity of its acting Chairman”.

He said that the allegation “is another avenue of corruption fighting back as some people have been uncomfortable with the uncompromising stance of the Acting EFCC Chairman in the fight against corruption”.

He stated: “The EFCC wishes to categorically state that no official of the agency that is directly or remotely connected with the work of the Arms Procurement Committee have had any dealings that verge on fraud with Air Commodore Mohammed or any other member of the Committee. It challenges anybody with contrary information to come forward with the evidence.

“The EFCC as a body upholds zero tolerance for corruption and will not condone any act that amount to corruption.”

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