By Fadlillah Abdallah el-Kurebe
ASHENEWS reports that the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has opined that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must probe all the outgoing public officers of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, including elected officials.
Its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, specifically placed emphasis on the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, saying that he must clear himself of all allegations and should not be allowed to leave the country before May 29th.
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“We demand that when the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari bows out of office, all key office holders must be asked to clear themselves of all pending corruption and other allegations against them.
“We insist, in particular, that the CBN governor must be made to give an account of his tenure to the incoming administration. We demand that if any study leave has been approved for Emefiele or any other suspected official, it should be canceled in the interest of peaceful transfer of power, accountability and good governance.”
“The CNG observes that just recently, precisely on Monday, May 15, 2023, the Nigeria Police headquarters confirmed that plots to scuttle the May 29th official inauguration of the new administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors at the state level are real.
“We strongly repudiate, in all ramifications, any attempt by any individual or group, to bring about any situation that could lead to scuttling or in anyway postponing the scheduled handover of leadership to the new duly elected federal administration of Bola Tinubu and state governors on May 29.
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“We demand that anybody or group found remotely involved with the financing, direct execution or concealing information on this sinister and diabolic scheme, be treated appropriately as a treasonable felon and enemy of the state and fellow citizens,” Suleiman stated.
The CNG further urged the EFCC to extend its investigation of corrupt practices to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.
“We reject the purported plan to limit the searchlight to only outgoing state governors and demand that the EFCC Chairman carries out a holistic probe by extending the beam on the Presidency, Federal Government ministries, parastatals and cabinet members of the outgoing administration.
“We also demand a thorough search into allegations against the EFCC itself as well as the disabling volume of debt amassed for the country by the outgoing administration.”
