One man has dominated the news since yesterday afternoon and that man is Ifeanyi Ubah of Capital Oil fame. Reports have it that Ubah, who has been in the news for a while in connection with mind-boggling debts and alleged multi-billion naira fraud, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the N43 billion fuel subsidy scam.

Ubah, however, denied that he was arrested, insisting that he only made a routine visit to the EFCC’s office in connection with his case. He then made a disclosure which left no doubt that the EFCC is not serious in enuring that Ubah pays for his alleged crimes. Hear the middle-aged oil tycoon while speaking with reporters in Awka, the Anambra State capital, in connection with his purported arrest by the EFCC:

“The invitation by the EFCC is routine and there is nothing wrong about that. I drove them in my car to their office and we exchanged pleasantries and it lasted for more than thirty minutes and I left.”

The simple meaning of the above words, especially the highlighted portion of Ubah’s statement, is that EFCC IS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT INVESTIGATING THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UBAH, including that of fuel subsidy scam.

If we may ask, why should EFCC officials sent to fetch Ubah ride with him IN HIS CAR to their office? Does it mean that they trekked to his house and so badly needed a lift which only Ubah could provide? Why should they accept a ride from a man whom they had been sent to fetch in connection with alleged crimes? The right thing would have been for them to take him to their office in their own vehicle or, at worst, allow him to follow them in his own car since he is a scared cow.

Ubah’s revelation that on arriving at the EFCC’s office, he and the relevant officials who were supposed to quiz him only “exchanged pleasantries” and he left is equally outrageous. For crying out loud, this is a man who should be undergoing serious investigations! And all you do is to exchange pleasantries and off he goes?

In the circumstances, is it a surprise that EFCC under the watch of Ibrahim Lamorde has proved be a total disaster? The other day Mr. Lamorde publicly confessed that the EFCC under him cannot achieve anything meaningful in the war against graft but can only convict yahoo yahoo boys but, surprisingly, President Goodluck Jonathan has allowed a man who publicly said he cannot perform to remain on the job. Mr. Lamorde blamed his failure on loopholes in the anti-corruption laws but the revelation by Mr. Ubah has exposed his lie.

The truth is that EFCC under Ibrahim Lamorde has failed woefully because of the man’s methods and tactics. Ifeanyi Ubah’s case has erased any doubt about that. It is left for those who gave Lamorde a job that is bigger than him to look for a better candidate soonest or continue to come under attack for the worsening corruption situation in the country which, inexplicably, only those in the Presidency claim to be ignorant of.

•Photo: Ifeanyi Ubah.

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