Over Coalition of Civil Society Organizations under the aegis of Committee Against Oppression and Persecution (COMAP) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of being selective in prosecuting corrupt people.

The CSOs were reacting to EFCC’s alleged silence on the allegations of $413,000 bribe leveled against the former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The Kano State government led by Governor Abba Yusuf had accused Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, his wife, Hafsat, son, Umar and six others of receiving $413,000 and N1.38bn bribe.

The state government in April filed charges against Ganduje and others; however, efforts to serve them the charges had proved abortive.

Their absence in court stalled their arraignments, in the Kano State High Court, leading to adjournment for at least four times.

However, the High Court presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu, last week, ordered their trials in absentia.

The Coalition in a statement issued on Thursday by Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Kure and the Secretary, Barr. Udoji Franklin wondered why the anti-graft agency still allowed Ganduje to walk free despite the corruption charges against him.

“Aside from Ganduje, there are many pending cases that the anti-graft agency has tactically abandoned.

“If the EFCC cannot engage in a just fight against corruption, starting from within its ranks, they should stop molesting vulnerable political figures.

“It is high time we saddled people with the real responsibilities of tackling corruption in Nigeria and not executing dangerous political survival strategies for paymasters,” COMAP stated.

The CSOs called on President Bola Tinubu to save the image of corruption war in Nigeria and stop the EFCC from further deceiving Nigerians by unfairly castigating law abiding citizens, intimidating people perceived to have no godfathers and allowing established criminals to roam the streets with audacity at the expense of the country’s image.

“We are in full support of Mr. President to turn this country around but he must be mindful of those plotting to terminate his rule after four years with unpopular actions. They have formed themselves into a cabal and will be the first set of people to betray him,” COMAP claimed.

The Coalition recalled that, shortly after Kano State repealed its chieftaincy laws and reinstated a previously dethroned emir, believed to be close to former Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso, the EFCC, expectedly, immediately invited Kwankwaso officially, but could not follow up with an arrest when the latter obtained a restraining order preventing his arrest by the agency or others.

“In Yahaya Bello’s case, EFCC shunned the laws of the system, treated him like a coup plotter without any official invitation and despite holding a valid restraining order against such, and the Commission thinks it has succeeded in turning Nigerians against him with daily misleading propaganda on their social media handles. Those who are not beclouded by politics and hate know this is deceit and not corruption fight,” it stated.

According to COMAP, Ganduje is not different from the former Governor of Kogi State, as they were both two-term governors.

“Aside from Ganduje, there are many pending cases that the antigraft agency has tactically abandoned. We are aware that the N70bn money laundering allegation against Bello Matawalle, former Governor of Nasarawa State, is still pending though he has a restraining order against arrest” (Daily Independent)

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