TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says Abba Kyari, chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, did not instigate its probe of Winifred Oyo-Ita, head of service.

Oyo-Ita was quizzed by the anti-graft agency over allegations that she used front companies to get contracts when she was a permanent secretary.

She has denied any wrong-doing.

The head of service later tendered her resignation letter but it was rejected by the president.

However, there were reports that Kyari influenced the probe against her.

In a statement on Monday, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, said is no truth in the claim that Kyari is behind the probe.

Uwujaren said the EFCC is an independent organisation created to fight corruption “without fear or favour.”

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to reports by a section  of the media, insinuating that the ongoing investigation of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita by the Commission was instigated by the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari,” he said.

“The Commission wishes to state that there is no truth in these claims, and urges the general public to disregard the reports as the handiwork of mischief makers.

“For the avoidance of doubt, investigation by the EFCC is evidence-based. Most often,they  are triggered by petitions or intelligence. In the case of the HoS, Oyo- Ita’s investigation, it was prompted by intelligence received by the Commission.

“The EFCC is an independent agency created by law to fight corruption without fear or favour. In the discharge of its mandate, the Commission does not take instructions from extraneous bodies neither will it lend itself to be used to settle scores by anyone.

“The Commission again wishes to appeal to the media to be circumspect in their reportage and not lend themselves to actions that could befuddle the activities of the Commission.”