Tinubu won’t bow to opposition blackmail over EFCC probes, says APC chieftain

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has cautioned opposition politicians against politicising the work of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Speaking with journalists in Osogbo, the capital of Osun, on Sunday, Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said the EFCC has a constitutional mandate to investigate financial infractions committed by any Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation.

He described attempts by opposition parties to link President Bola Tinubu to the anti-graft agency’s recent probes as misleading.

According to him, members of the ruling party are also being investigated by the EFCC whenever petitions alleging financial infractions are raised against them.

Oyintiloye insisted that neither ruling party members nor opposition politicians are immune from financial investigation and urged those being probed to focus on proving their innocence rather than dragging the presidency into the matter.

“The EFCC has a mandate to investigate financial infractions against anyone, irrespective of political affiliations,” he said.

“Linking the president to the investigation of alleged financial infractions by opposition members in the name of politics is totally wrong.

“Whether you are a member of the ruling party or opposition, you are not immune to financial investigation.

“I want to caution members of the opposition parties to stop politicising what the EFCC is doing and prove their innocence, if any.

“President Tinubu is a man of honour and integrity, and he will not compromise his ideals in the name of politics. So, it is no longer business as usual.

“More of the corrupt politicians hiding in opposition parties with the intent to blackmail the president to get themselves off the hook will still be arrested. No room for graft under the Tinubu administration.”

Bolaji Abdullahi, the interim national publicity secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had accused the EFCC of engaging in a “choreographed media trial” against opposition figures.

Abdullahi had cited the overnight detention of Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto, by the EFCC and the commission’s “urgent” request for information on the seven-month tenure of Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo.

However, the EFCC in a statement said the commission operates a non-partisan mandate, noting that serving and former governors and ministers from the ruling party, as well as opposition figures, have been investigated.