EFCC targets Bauchi governor, arrests accountant general
In a move viewed as a continuation of targeted arrests of opposition voices by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have reportedly arrested the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Alhaji Sirajo Mohammed Jaja.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, who confirmed the arrest, indicated that the investigation is linked to the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, a staunch critic of the Tinubu administration.
Jaja was arrested on Wednesday in Abuja over involvement in alleged N70 billion fraud. Two other people, Aliyu Abubakar, a bureau de change operator, and one Sunusi Ibrahim Sambo, a Point of Sale (PoS) operator, were also arrested by the EFCC.
The trio are under investigation for alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds, and misappropriation of state resources.
A public affairs commentator, Abbas Rufa’i questioned the sincerity of the EFCC in its recent tracking of corrupt persons, and ignoring petitions of politically exposed persons already submitted to it.
He recalled that two years ago, the EFCC had apprehended Godswill Akpabio over allegations bordering on wanton looting of Akwa-Ibom State treasury to the tune of over N100 billion.
Rufa’i also said a group, the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT), had alleged that the former Akwa Ibom governor, now Senate President, had diverted N700 billion while he held sway as the state chief executive.
“This and many other cases of alleged corruption against political office holders under the current administration has been conveniently ignored by the EFCC. They have been opening fresh actions targeting opposition politicians. This is not good for its image, it should be seen to be unbiased in its operations. ”
