From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
A coalition of youth groups has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to rethink its decision to label socialite Dr. Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu as wanted.
The Niger Delta Youth Council for Good Governance and the Middle Belt Youth Stakeholders’ Initiative made this plea in a joint statement on Thursday in Abuja. Comrade Emma Niboro and Ali Ameh signed it for the two groups, respectively.
They said the EFCC’s move shocked them. They praised Achimugu as a loyal friend to youths and a champion for the poor.
The coalition stated, “We know the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, as a man who came with utmost zeal to sanitize the agency. He has already demonstrated this and we are proud of his achievements so far.
“However, we urge him to resist pressure from politicians, which is a plague that has dwarfed EFCC for several years of its existence. The commission had hitherto remained a tool for politicians to undue their perceived political foes and this has always rubbed off on the credibility of the agency.
“The case of Achumugu doesn’t appear to be different in any way, as the haste with which she was declared wanted showed there is a hand of Esau and voice of Jacob. Our appeal is that the commission should withdraw the wanted tag on her and give her ample time to report to the commission, as she has never been indicted of any offence whether in Nigeria or outside the country.”
The groups called Achimugu a global figure and vouched for her integrity.
“We know her, she has always been of immense help to the youths and other members of the society,” they said. “Her closeness to certain politicians should not be used as a tool to persecute or harass her,” they added.