The Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Coalition has asked Nigerians to expose corrupt practices in the country for prosperity, peace, and development. The coalition in Lagos further called on Nigerians to back the ongoing anti-graft campaign by the relevant anti-corruption institutions, especially the fight by the notable anti-graft institution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Speaking at the coalition meeting attended by over 35 leading Civil Society Organisations across the country, the convener, Sina Odugbemi noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are not ticking all boxes but calling for the sack of its leadership is unnecessary at this time, adding that such a call may be exploited by the corruption-ridden political class.

According to Odugbemi, civil groups have statutory responsibility in ensuring that corrupt politicians, groups, and individuals with anti-corruption campaigns and advocacy are brought to the book. He further expressed the coalition's worry over the politicization of the fight against corruption by politically exposed persons. Nigeria is currently at the mercy of corrupt politically exposed persons whose activities threaten the livelihood of the people apart from the dangers their conducts posed to sustainable development.

“We are deeply worried about the politicization in the fight against corruption by some politicians. We strongly condemn and warn politicians to steer clear from the human rights community by promoting voices that seek to stem the anti-corruption campaign. We have a duty to defend human liberty, one of which is to confront corruption which not only leads to poverty and misery.”

“Nigeria is currently at the mercy of corrupt politically exposed persons whose activities threaten the livelihood of the people apart from the dangers their conducts posed to sustainable development.

“We have been committed to the constructive engagement of the leading anti-corruption group in Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would continue to offer genuine counsel and criticisms where necessary.

According to the human rights groups, the call for the resignation of the EFCC Chairman, Bawa are premature, unnecessary, and unwarranted at this time of the polity. The groups also said some of those making the calls are respected people and organizations within the human rights community, adding that their position may have been informed by a lack of adequate information.

It then called on the EFCC to sustain its civil society engagements instead of keeping itself away from popular platforms necessary to nurture many of its utilitarian policies.

“While we recognize that several miles are left uncovered, the fact is that the achievements represent remarkable movement forward and not backward. Corruption is like cancer. It diminishes the status of its host, destroys the fabric of the nation, fuels violence, human misery, and even wars. Civil society organizations should oil the anti-corruption wheel instead of trying to be a cog in the cycle,” the group said.

The groups further condemned the political figures for constantly corrupting the public voices to destroy anti-corruption institutions. While the anti-graft agencies have their shortcomings, the plot to demystify and annihilate the EFCC through orchestrated campaigns is not only dangerous but inimical to the overall interest of millions of Nigerians who are victims of the horrendous misery arising from corruption.

According to the Anti-corruption coalition, Nigeria would have been worse without the EFCC, therefore, it urged civil society organizations to shun any inducement from people motivated by politicians to obliterate the gains already recorded by the anti-corruption institution. It further noted that the EFCC has recovered over 400 billion in the past one year, several convictions have been recorded, highly placed political figures are being charged to court and some of them convicted.

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