In all honesty, President Muhammad Buhari’s determined drive to frontally tackle the monster of crass corruption in high places and bring it to its begging knees deserves commendation. Indeed, it takes uncommon courage for any leader to set in motion pragmatic mechanisms to rein in the twin evils of corruption and impunity which have enjoyed a free rein in Nigeria for decades and made us a laughing stock in the comity of nations. Little wonder that such moves have attracted national and global acclaim.

And deservedly so, because no nation ever achieves sustainable socio-economic growth when corruption assumes the dangerous dimension of a rampaging cancer spreading within its body polity and nothing is done to contain it. With the sweeping broom to cleanse the Augean stable, the president’s action is largely viewed as patriotic since we are all victims.

It is against this bright backdrop that one would view the recent resurgence of the anti-graft Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate those alleged to have soiled their hands with filthy lucre especially since Buhari became the new president. The fact that the searchlight is being beamed on the high and mighty makes it more credible. Within the short span of two months for instance, the former governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha along with some others have been facing prosecution. They are to answer questions on 28-count charges related to N1.35 bn fraud.

In a similar vein, the EFCC invited Toyin Saraki, wife to the former Kwara State governor and currently the Senate President, for questioning. She has to explain the execution of several contracts traced to her while her husband held sway as the state’s helmsman. On her part, Mrs. Zaina Dangigari, the daughter of late President Umaru Yar’ Adua and wife to the ex-governor of Kebbi State, is being quizzed for alleged misappropriation of N2bn state funds.

Not done, the agency has also grilled Baraka Sanni, who was the Senior Special Assistant to former president Goodluck Jonathan on Schools and Agricultural Programmes. She has to defend herself against weighty allegations of diversion of funds earmarked for her office.

President Buhari is also taking a closer look into the operations of the NNPC, allegedly responsible for monumental fraud, not excluding massive oil theft. One cannot but align with such moves to reposition the nation’s economy for impactful growth.

The truth, however, is that as one praises EFCC’s salutary efforts, it must be able separate the wheat from the chaff , so that some Nigerians won’t capitalize on the wave of allegations to raise false alarm and perhaps settle scores. Only such would not distract well-meaning, focused public servants who are passionate about deploying their energy and intellectual skills for the best of their country.

The recent invitation of the much-respected Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr.Paul Orhii, by the EFCC readily comes to mind. Even while he willingly obliged the invitation out of his own volition, the sensational and screaming headlines crafted by some section of the media had the intention to paint the suspect guilty, even before investigations started. People became jumpy, getting into hasty conclusions that not only undermine the image of the suspects but ultimately that of the agency in question.

Is it not curious that one Mr. Ademola Magbojuri, the erstwhile Director, Finance and Account made allegations of acts bodering on financial impropriety on the part of Orhii only after he was redeployed to NAFDAC Training Institute at Kaduna? It is ridiculous that a public officer who has exhibited an act of insubordination would turn round to cook up cock and bull stories against his boss. That is pure mischief.

What has he been doing all the while, even as media reports claim that he has all along been presiding over the meetings of the same fund disbursement he is accusing Orhii of? This, in my humble opinion shows that the former finance director has ulterior motives. Such vindictive people, out on a mission of vendetta, should not be allowed to distract the Buhari administration from its anti-graft war which is not meant to witch-hunt any citizen.

Having read and investigated with apt interest Orhii’s giant steps since assumption of office, there is ample evidence that he has taken NAFDAC notches higher even if has chosen to be on the quiet side and allows his achievements to speak for themselves. What with, for instance, the construction of new laboratories, upgrading them to international standards, the use of cutting-edge technology against counterfeit drugs, to mention but a few. Anyone in doubt should pay a visit to the new edifice at Isolo, Lagos. In fact, for a world-renowned medical practitioner, lawyer and expert on drug-related matters to have chosen to return to serve his country shows the trait of a patriot. Should we pay him back in bad coins? While one is not advocating that he should not be investigated, that should be done with utmost caution. The EFCC has to differentiate between the motive of the petitioners and the method it adopts in carrying out its investigations, especially under the current tense political situation.



Obalola, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.

This just smells of cheap blackmail, the Director Finance & Accounts refused cooperation yet all this was able to happen?? Without his cooperation?? Really I want to hear something else, there is need to find out if there is love lost somewhere,is he still at the agency or did the transfer stoke this flame?? (pride & blackmail); because these figures can only emanate from an accountant (i.e if they are true after all) Dont trust most whistleblowers, the last one against the ebola funds /NCDC issue turned out to be a fake Doctor, working at the Ministry for almost a decade. I believe the Director of Finance should be investigated, because DG's don't release monies, they do and if he is crying blue murder now, four fingers must surely be pointing at him. Please folks, dont always be too quick to tarnish, investigative journalism will do thirsty truth news seekers alot of good!!


Grave as these allegations against the NAFDAC DG, Dr. Paul Orhii may appear, I will urge caution in arriving at any hasty conclusions until a thoroughl and painstaking investigation of the allegations are carried out. The Director of Finance and Administration who was recently redeployed to another department by the NAFDAC board and who is said to be very unhappy about his redeployment and has openly threatened to malign the DG and get him fired in the expected changes to be made across the board by PMB at the Federal level.