The Coalition of Young Nigerians for the Soul of Our Future has expressed concern over a growing attempt by politically exposed persons to weaponise media sentiment against lawful anti-corruption processes.
The Coalition in a statement signed by Kimberly Saviour Gift said this trend follows a familiar and troubling pattern.
It said: “Public officials amass enormous financial war chests during or after their tenure. When accountability looms, they resort to emotional narratives, selective disclosures, and, in some cases, outright distortion of facts to portray themselves as victims of persecution.
“This strategy is deliberate. It is designed to weaken institutions, distract investigators, and delay the day of reckoning.
“We consider this practice dangerous and unacceptable. Recent public claims surrounding the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) further illustrate this pattern of manipulation.
“Facts already placed in the public domain by the Commission make it clear that administrative bail is a discretionary and conditional temporary reprieve, not a right. Where the conditions attached to such bail are not met, no claim of revocation can arise, as there is, in law, no effective bail to revoke.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC’s administrative bail conditions are explicit. They include the provision of two reliable sureties who are serving Permanent Secretaries in Federal Ministries within Abuja.
“Such sureties are required to submit valid appointment letters, letters of last promotion, official identity cards, National Identification Numbers (NIN), recent pay slips, and letters of introduction from their employers.
“Additionally, the sureties must be owners of landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) with valid Certificates of Occupancy.
“The suspect is also required to deposit all international passports, including any official or diplomatic passports, with the Commission, and to report regularly to the EFCC at specified dates and times until the matter is concluded.
“In the case under reference, provisional administrative bail was granted after interrogation, subject to these clearly stated conditions.
“These conditions were acknowledged and signed but remain unmet. Requests for adjournment on grounds of ill health were nevertheless compassionately granted by the Commission, despite the absence of medical reports or verifiable documentation.
“Investigative timelines were adjusted in good faith. Regrettably, meaningful cooperation did not follow.
“It is therefore deeply troubling to witness attempts to reframe lawful investigative actions as political intimidation.
“Such claims are not only misleading but corrosive to public trust, particularly when they emanate from individuals who previously served as chief law officers of the federation and are fully aware of the legal implications of administrative bail.
“We state unequivocally that the EFCC has demonstrated, through its operational record, that it is non-partisan in its mandate.
“The Commission has pursued investigations and prosecutions across party lines, including against serving and former officials of the ruling party.
“To suggest that the EFCC restricts political participation or media engagement is a gross misrepresentation of its statutory powers and responsibilities.”
