The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been put under spotlight on the handling of petitions against members of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre group has filed a petition asking specifically for the EFCC to probe Patience Jonathan and the source of APC campaign funds.
The group also wants the anti-graft agency to spread its investigative searchlight to the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and others over corruption allegations.
According to a report in Huhuonline, the Deputy Director of Operations, EFCC, Iliyasu Kwarbai, said this shortly after he received a petition from rights group, which staged a protest at the EFCC’s Lagos office.
“We’re investigating Patience Jonathan and if she’s found wanting, she wouldn’t go free.
“If anyone is indicted, no matter how highly or lowly placed the person is, the person would be arrested.
“The person’s status is immaterial to the EFCC. The most important thing is evidence.
“If there’s evidence that the person stole public funds, the person wouldn’t go free,” Kwarbai said
Asked if the protest staged by the advocacy group would hasten investigations against those alleged in the petition, Kwarbai said: “The protesters came to our office, not only because of Patience Jonathan, but there were also other matters.
“They talked about Amaechi, Olusegun Obasanjo, Tinubu and others.
“They came to our office and started dancing.
“We allowed them to finish dancing.
“After that, they submitted a petition against Patience.
“They want us to also investigate APC funds.
“I have already sent the petition to my chairman for action.
“Any petition brought to our office, is always investigated.
“There are however two major things the group wanted to be investigated: Patience Jonathan and APC campaign funds.”
Asked if Tinubu would be investigated, Kwarbai said: “Anybody mentioned would be investigated.
“We don’t shield anybody.
“That’s our job.”
The petition, entitled: “Demand for arrest, prosecution of Patience Jonathan, probe of APC campaign fund and no more sacred cow in the anti-corruption crusade,” was signed by the President of the group, Queen Ameh, and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Innocent Agbo.
The group wondered why Patience Jonathan was still walking free when evidences had already indicted her.
The group urged the EFCC to go after Patience, and ex-Presidents, including Ibrahim Babangida, Abdusalam Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.
According to the protesters, the EFCC should begin to probe the source of the election campaign fund the APC used for the 2015 election.
