N50bn Fraud:  EFCC’s Credibility Questioned As Anti-graft Groups Demand Olukoyede’s Resignation Over Alleged Failure To Arrest, Prosecute Ganduje

A coalition of 30 anti-corruption civil society organizations has called for the resignation of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, due to his alleged failure to prosecute Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State, despite multiple petitions regarding multi-billion naira fraud and bribery.

Ganduje faces several corruption allegations, including the infamous “dollar video” scandal, and has repeatedly failed to appear in court for bribery and misappropriation charges. 

The CSOs, operating under the “Global Initiative for Corruption Eradication” (GICE), also called for Ganduje’s immediate arrest, accusing the EFCC of shielding him with Federal Government support.

Anthony Onoja, the spokesperson for GICE, led a press conference in Abuja, highlighting the EFCC’s inaction: “N50 billion diverted LGAs funds, dollar video, and the N1 billion probe seem to have all been swept under the carpet. It’s been over 2,200 days since the dollar video scandal broke, and yet EFCC is silent.”

The activists urged Nigerians and international organisations to press the EFCC into action, demanding Ganduje’s arrest and prosecution. They further warned that if Olukoyede fails to act, he should step down: “The chairman of EFCC must resign from his position if he fails to arrest and prosecute Governor Ganduje in line with our extant laws.”

According to Saturday Sun, the group criticised the EFCC for abandoning its original mandate and becoming a tool for political manipulation.

They accused the agency of selective prosecution, pointing out that while some public officials face justice, others like Ganduje remain untouched.

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Onoja stated, “The general perception of Nigerians now is that the EFCC… has abandoned its original mandate by becoming a political tool in the hands of the government of the day for eliminating political rivals and perceived enemies.”

Ganduje, who is now the national chairman of the ruling party, remains under scrutiny for several corruption allegations, yet continues to evade justice.

The activists noted that he has repeatedly failed to appear in court for bribery and misappropriation charges.

They outlined the multiple court dates missed by Ganduje and his wife, stating, “The case was adjourned to 29th April but was stalled again. No representation, no appearance. Ganduje was not present. The case was again adjourned to May 16, and on that day, arraignment was rescheduled to June 5…Still, the former governor…did not show up.”

Despite these missed court appearances, the prosecution’s request for an arrest warrant was declined. The judge, however, suggested that Ganduje and his co-defendants could be tried in absentia.

The CSOs emphasised that the EFCC, initially praised for its creation under former President Obasanjo, has lost its way.

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They hinted at the possibility of disbanding the commission due to its current state of “constitutional illegality,” as pointed out by states challenging the EFCC at the Supreme Court.

The activists concluded, “Perhaps if the EFCC in its current form is disbanded… it would be able to perform its real functions of stamping out corruption when its law is properly enacted.”