There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not relenting in its determination to investigate allegations of corruption against some ministers and other officials, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Only last week, former Minister of Aviation under Buhari, Hadi Sirika, was invited by the anti-graft agency to answer questions on allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation. It was alleged that the former Minister awarded aviation contracts amounting to over N8 billion to his brother, who is also a civil servant.
Sirika is billed to be arraigned anytime this week. Commenting on the former minister’s arrest and President Bola Tinubu’s government’s fight against corruption, a source in the presidency, who craved anonymity, because he had no mandate to speak, said:
“Like I said before, this government has zero tolerance for corruption. The government is investigating past officials and is ready to recover stolen funds from whoever is found culpable. Some of those who consider themselves untouchables would soon find out that there are no sacred cows in the President’s determination to recover stolen funds.”
Another source said: “You will soon begin to see similar cases. The EFCC is working on many of them but will only invite the targets after concluding their investigations. The former President, who is an anti corruption champion, has washed off his hands and would not lift a finger to save any of his officials found wanting. By now, there would have been so many cases but I learnt that many of them were doing secret plea bargaining and returning stolen funds into government coffers. Whoever is found culpable, and refuses to plea bargain, will have a court date.”
NEW TELEGRAPH
