Legal Expert Urges EFCC To Investigate Members Of Buhari’s Cabinet

Human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi is urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the financial activities of cabinet members and appointees who served during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The call for scrutiny follows the recent trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele, which brought attention to alleged forgery of signatures, including those of Buhari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

In a statement released on Friday, Olajengbesi emphasized the urgency of the investigation, citing “startling revelations” from Emefiele’s trial, particularly regarding a $6.2 million fraud case related to funding for foreign observers in the last elections. These revelations have raised concerns about the integrity of financial transactions during Buhari’s presidency.

Commending the EFCC’s efforts in exposing these allegations, Olajengbesi stressed the need to extend the investigation to cover all individuals in positions of power during the eight-year period. He argued that auditing the financial transactions of Buhari’s government officials is vital for ensuring accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s public sector.

The lawyer’s call for an expanded probe aligns with the EFCC’s intensified efforts to combat corruption and financial crimes within the country. Investigating former cabinet members and government appointees, according to Olajengbesi, would be a significant step in dismantling corrupt practices and reinforcing principles of good governance.

Olajengbesi asserted, “The audacity of those in power and their criminal influence is becoming too much and must be stopped. The EFCC must not stop at just the former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele but should carry out an entire audit of principal actors who served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. There should be a deterrent for bad behavior.” He also pointed to the recent case of the suspended Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmad Salihijo, as indicative of the abuse of power within Buhari’s administration.

Emefiele and other individuals who served under the Buhari administration, Olajengbesi argued, should undergo a comprehensive audit to allow them an opportunity to clear their names, given the perceived magnitude of corruption during that government’s tenure.

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