http://allafrica.com/stories/201009160420.html


Lagos — The Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on yesterday came down hard on the officers and men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing them as a bundle of disappointment.

However, the EFCC in its reaction, described Governor Amaechi as insincere, and accused him of shielding officials of the state who have questions to answer. He made this comment to LEADERSHIP in a telephone interview from Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The governor said the recent fear of an alleged assault on EFCC operatives in the state, as expressed by the commission's chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, was a false alarm.

"When did EFCC setup its office in Rivers State? How many cases have they handled since then? How many times has EFCC operatives been attacked by people of the State? Why this present alarm and why is it coming at this material time in particular? How many investigative activities have EFCC undertaken in the state till date? When last have EFCC operatives complained of being attacked in Rivers State?"

"Ordinarily, I would not have joined issues with the EFCC Chairperson in her bitterness against what God is doing in Rivers State despite all satanic plots against the state by enemies of progress but record must be put straight for posterity, for the avoidance of doubt, EFCC can come into my bedroom to investigate me anytime any day," he said.

he Governor said EFCC operatives in the state doing their legitimate duties have nothing to fear. "This is because, our books are clean, we have nothing to hide. Every dime of the Rivers people's money can be accounted for to the last Kobo. The people of the state can show to any of the EFCC operatives what we have done with their money, this is no longer fairy-tales but reality, facts that are verifiable."

The EFCC statement signed by Femi Babafemi, its Head, media and publicity states that "It is unfortunate for anybody to claim that the EFCC does not have an office in Rivers state and that is enough confirmation that such a person or persons do not really want EFCC or the nation's anti-graft war to work."

"The fact that the Commission raised an alarm on Tuesday over a planned attack on its office in Port Harcourt, and inspite of the state govt denial of such plan, hundereds of hired youths still came in from all the local council areas of the state to protest against the Commission and our work, is a confirmation that our alarm was not baseless afterall. Its obvious who is lying."

"Those claiming that the EFCC is being used to destabilise the state are not sincere. The questions they should rather answer are whether the Commission has petitions or fraud allegations against some state officials and if we do , do we have the power to investigate. If we do, why is the state shielding its officials accused of graft from being investigated.

Its curious and suspicious.

No matter the level of blackmail or sponsored attack from any quarter, we will do what they are running away from; investigate fraud allegations against them and charge those found culpable to court."