Twenty-one civil society organizations under the auspices of the Coalition of Concerned Nigeria Political Pressure groups yesterday called on the National Assembly to review certain aspects of the Act establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The coalition said the anti-graft body under Mr. Ibrahim Magu should not be made a monster organization to be used by the executive against perceived opponents.
The group’s National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Ali Abacha made the call at a news conference in Abuja, where he also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate stop of the unwarranted persecution of former First Lady Patient Jonathan.
He said: “We have regrettably observed as concerned Nigerians that certain elements within the president’s administration are bent on diverting attention of this noble course by unnecessarily politicizing the war to achieve their own selfish motives, philosophy and mission.”
Abacha noted that while the coalition was not in support of any corrupt tendencies or actions from any Nigerian, no matter how highly placed; he stresses that the convention worldwide and indeed in Nigeria since independent, was that no first lady has been singled out, harassed or embarrassed in the way and manner Mrs. Jonathan is currently being treated.
“It is against this background that we as concerned Nigerians are calling on President Buhari to quickly intervene and halt this unnecessary persecution of Jonathan through his wife by the EFCC.
“Mr. President should quickly direct the immediate unblocking and defreezing of all personal accounts of Mrs. Jonathan from ‘No withdrawal’ status they have been placed by EFCC.