EFCC vs NYAKO: One Political Battle Too Many – By Folorunsho Adegbite

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To the unsuspecting Nigerian, the sudden interest and zeal with which the EFCC is pursuing the case against Muritala Nyako, it is a case of an anti-corruption agency doing its job although it just realized what its job is while to very few discerning Nigerians,it is more of a political stunt and witch-hunt.
Just before the elections,the EFCC declared former Governor Murtala Nyako and his son and wanted and few days later,his son was arrested in Gombe.AbdulAziz Nyako gave his own side of the story and they left him to go on bail without hassles.They didn’t have any reason to keep holding him.Then came his father on the 30th of May 2015 after nine months away from Nigeria.Instead of proceeding to his homestate of Adamawa which he could easily have done,he decided to wait behind on that Friday and by Monday he reported at the office of the anti-graft agency to also respond to allegations against him.A man who has a lot to hide would not go that extra mile.That meeting went well and Nyako was also allowed to go home based on self- recognition.

The question that would easily come to the minds of Nigerians is why did the EFCC suddenly become hyperactive and desperate to see Nyako is nailed?The commission was obviously playing a political script for some politicians who always saw Nyako as a pain in their necks politically and see his ever-growing political influence as a threat.
The desperation to clip Nyako’s wings started when after his visit to the EFCC,left for his state,Adamawa.The crowd that received him at the airport and the town in general and followed him everywhere he visited on that day was mammoth.That kind of crowd could only be likened to the kind that receives Buhari whenever he graces a place.The people were not rented.These were the masses Nyako took sides with when he was governor and undertook only programs that were grassroot oriented.He didn’t believe in white elephant projects neither did he embark upon projects that are only beneficial to the metropolitan areas.Every local government felt the effect of his programs with the poor as the main target.Little wonder why the ordinary man in Adamawa is always ready to stand by him while the elites are only interested in settling imaginary scores with him.This man just had to be tamed and undermined as far as those politicians were concerned.
The most convenient way to achieve this was to use the EFCC under the leadership of Ibrahim Lamorde and so they swung into action.Hardly had Nyako settled down in his Abuja home after his return from Yola when the EFCC pounced on him like a predator ready to devour its prey.It was determined to ensure he is in their custody along with his son and two others.The EFCC was not in a hurry to take them to court for reasons best known to them.They had to but reluctantly when Nyako insisted he should be taken to court even after the agency suggested an out of court settlement.Nyako didn’t trust the anti-graft agency on its intentions and actions.He believed in the courts to do justice,hence his insistence to go to court.
Even in the courtroom and during the hearing on the bail application for the accused,the EFCC could not hide its desperation to see Nyako remains in prison custody.The same agency which a few weeks before then was comfortable granting Nyako an administrative bail suddenly objected to the court to grant the accused persons bail sighting likelihood of them jumping bail.They presented the court should grant accelerated hearing rather than granting them bail.In other words,the accused be remanded in prison until the conclusion and judgement on the case.Who really wants Nyako out of the way?How much more desperate can they get?The counsel to the EFCC gave several past court cases as references to buttress their point on why the court shouldn’t grant them bail. But the judge wouldn’t have any of that.He wasn’t convinced beyond reasonable doubt and granted them bail.
The EFCC under Lamorde has set a very bad and dangerous precedence by allowing it be used politically. Nyako is a politician and political battles are meant to be fought and won or lost.This is very typical of politics.But when an agency that is supposed to be the anti-corruption watchdog over public servants and politicains becomes a ready tool in the hands of these same people,then its existence is a threat to the collective wellbeing of Nigerians.
Former Governor Murtala Nyako has had several running political battles since he ventured into mainstream politics but this latest and most unfair from the EFCC which they have no business being involved,is one political battle too many.
Barrister Folorunsho Adegbite wrote in from Lagos.
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