I Don’t See How This Country Can Survive Without The EFCC – EFCC Dismisses Calls To Shut It Down

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has voiced disappointment with critics’ requests for its reorganization, claiming that those advocating for such are “feeling the heat of the work” of the commission.

Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, made this announcement on Monday, October 21. Sixteen state governments sued the anti-graft body in the Supreme Court, questioning its legitimacy.

The Kogi State Government initiated the lawsuit, which was joined by the Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, and Nassarawa state governments, among others.

On Tuesday, a seven-member panel of justices chaired by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji scheduled a hearing for October 22.

Uwujaren defended the EFCC, telling Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme; “We are really shocked by what is happening. Nigerians should see through this shenanigan and oppose it because I don’t see how this country can survive without the EFCC, given the kind of corruption problem that we have. Nigeria cannot do without the EFCC.

“I am worried that, with the kind of problem we have with corruption in this country, some people would go to court to challenge the legality of the EFCC. For citizens in their states, I am not sure that the EFCC is their greatest problem. I doubt that this is the case. What you see playing out is simply people who are feeling the heat of the work of the EFCC and who want to derail what is going on within the EFCC.

“They see the EFCC as a threat, and purely that is what is playing out. I think Nigerians can see through the gimmick of those who are behind the challenge to the legality of the commission,” Uwujaren said.

“So, people who are concerned about transparency and accountability will wish for bthe EFCC to be ‘killed’. Let me use the word ‘killed’ because that is the agenda.

“They simply want to derail the fight against corruption because they don’t want accountability in their domains.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli