APC Asks EFCC, ICPC to Intensify Probe of Ekweremadu, Others

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The All Progressives Con-gress (APC) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to relent in its efforts to unravel the truth about the corruption allegations against public officials, especially that of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu

The party also asked the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other allied anti-graft bodies to intensify efforts at investigating and recovering public funds and assets that have been stolen by public officials.

In a statement issued by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabene, the ruling party said the anti-graft agencies should ensure that it digs up all corruption cases involving politicians, so that only those that passed the integrity test can offer themselves to contest the 2019 general election.

The party said it is important that the Nigerian electorate have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and corruption test.

The ruling party said fighting corruption was one of the key election promises it made to Nigerians, adding that it remained committed to its success.

“Our call to anti-graft agencies is imperative as we prepare for the 2019 general election. We must check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections in this country. Again, it is important that the Nigerian electorate have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and corruption test. We must ensure that we never again entrust the leadership of this great country to gang of thieves whose sole aim is treasury looting as brazenly displayed in past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations,” the party said.

In urging the EFCC and other anti- corruption agencies to fast track its probe against politicians, APC said it particularly interested in seeing the outcome of the probe on properties owned by Senator Ekweremadu.

The party said: “An example is a current Senate presiding officer facing EFCC investigations. It is difficult to fathom how a federal lawmaker, who before his current position, was an Associate Lecturer and local government chairman, owns 22 high-end property in Nigeria and other exclusive locations across the world. It is our hope that the anti-graft agencies investigating this Senate presiding officer make public his and other corruption probe status reports so that Nigerians can know them for who they are.”

APC further said that its fight against corruption has been hugely successful and the gains are clear.
According to the party, the bold effort of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to instill probity in the country’s national life has led to the gradual disappearance of the era of impunity.

It said President Buhari had in line with his tough anti-corruption stance recently signed into law the Nigerian arm of the global financial intelligence unit – Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

“We are confident that the new law will boost ongoing efforts to combat money laundering, terrorism financing and check suspicious transactions, especially as we prepare for the 2019 elections,” APC said.