The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said
the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, is not under investigation
for alleged corruption.
In a statement by its spokesperson Wilson Uwajuren, the EFCC
stated that the recently leaked report of the probe of the CJN was not
accurate.
Uwajuren said, though, there were petitions filed against
Onnoghen at the time he was under consideration for his current position, the
agency found no valid claim in the allegations.
He further noted that the report could create disaffection
between the EFCC and the judiciary.
“The Commission wishes to state categorically that it is
currently not investigating Justices Onnoghen and Kafarati.
“While Onnoghen was being considered for his present
position, the Commission received some petitions which were investigated and
found to be without merit and discarded.”
“It is important to state that this report did not emanate
from the EFCC and the allusion to “an EFCC source” is diversionary and
mischievous.
“For the avoidance of doubt, cases under investigation
communicated to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation by the
Commission are classified information and it is troubling how such would be
leaked to the media.
“Indeed, much damage has been done to the Commission’s
investigation activities by this leak especially as some of the cases mentioned
are still at preliminary stages of investigation,” said Uwajuren.
He, however, did not deny the commission was investigating
other politically exposed persons, like Messrs. Fayemi, Fayose, Yahaya Bello,
Godswill Akpabio, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, among others.
By Chijioke Jannah
