Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday stated that it has not cleared former Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime, of any wrongdoing over the N450 million Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) campaign funds he allegedly received from erstwhile Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Johnson Babalola, South-East Zonal Head, EFCC, stated this while briefing newsmen at the NUJ Press Centre in Enugu.

Chime recently registered with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after quitting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform he used to govern Enugu State for eight years.

While declaring for APC, the former governor debunked speculations that he was joining the ruling party to escape prosecution for alleged corruption, saying he has no case whatsoever with EFCC.



Rebuttal

But speaking on Wednesday, Babalola announced that Chime was far from being free from the hook of EFCC, saying operatives of the agency were still investigating him over the election money he received from Alison-Madueke.

“Rita Mba, who was also fingered along with Chime and some others, is also under investigation even when she seemed to have accused EFCC of compromising with Chime in the fraud saga.

“We have not finished our investigation. Criminal cases of this nature can linger for a long time for thorough investigation to take place. Chime is still under investigation.

“Criminal cases don’t have expiry date. The case is still not closed. Rita has the right to allege that we have compromised. I want to tell you that she too is still under investigation and I do not want to say more than that about the case,” Babalola said.



Financial Difficulties



He, however, lamented that EFCC was facing financial difficulties in carrying out its onerous task as a corruption fighting agency because the very people they seem to be fighting are holding the purse, thereby making it difficult for them to execute their jobs.

“We are handicapped financially for the work because the people we are fighting are still the same people that will approve our funds,” Babalola said.

He said in spite of the challenges, the country would not be allowed to rot even when the powers that be seemed to be fighting their boss, Ibrahim Magu, who he said “is clean in the fight against corruption.”

He explained that EFCC does not indict people but investigate a matter before prosecuting it in court, insisting that they are always thorough before they say something.

http://www.statereporters.com/2017/05/18/former-gov-chime-still-investigation-despite-registered-apc-efcc/