A coalition of 30 anti-corruption civil society organizations under the umbrella "Global Initiative for Corruption Eradication" (GICE) has demanded the resignation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, over his alleged failure to prosecute former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. The coalition criticized the EFCC's inaction despite numerous petitions accusing Ganduje of multi-billion naira fraud and bribery.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, GICE's spokesperson, Comrade Anthony Onoja, condemned what he described as the EFCC's silence on the N50 billion local government fund diversion and the infamous dollar video scandal. "It has been over 2,200 days since the dollar video surfaced, yet the EFCC remains silent, despite the overwhelming evidence," Onoja remarked.
The coalition called for Ganduje's immediate arrest, emphasizing that the former governor no longer enjoys immunity and alleging that the Federal Government's protection of Ganduje, through the EFCC, is undermining the rule of law. Onoja added, "The continued inaction on Ganduje's case negates the EFCC's claim of treating all corruption cases equally. The EFCC has strayed from its original mandate and is increasingly perceived as a political tool for eliminating rivals."
The activists highlighted the numerous delays in Ganduje’s court proceedings, noting that the former governor and his wife repeatedly failed to appear in court over bribery and misappropriation allegations, despite multiple adjournments. "The EFCC's inaction sends a dangerous signal that certain individuals are above the law," the group declared.
GICE urged Nigerians and international organizations to join in demanding Ganduje's prosecution, asserting that the integrity of the EFCC and the country's anti-corruption fight depends on bringing all corrupt officials to justice.
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