EFCC denies receiving any money from Ganduje saying it never accepts donations from governors

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have denied receiving N10m ($27,500) from beleaguered Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje saying that the agency does not receive donations from governors.

Last month, the Kano State House of Assembly set up a seven-man ad hoc committee to investigate the authenticity of a video clip in which Governor Ganduje was seen receiving bribes from a contractor. Over the last month, the video, originally published by online media platform Daily Nigerian, showing the governor receiving wads of dollars from a man said to be a contractor and stuffing them into his clothing, has gone viral on social media.

Under pressure to investigate the claims, the EFCC has said, however, that it cannot act because Governor Ganduje still enjoys constitutional immunity from arrest and prosecution. Earlier this week, it was reported that Governor Ganduje gave the EFCC N10m to organise an anti-corruption marathon.

Aminu Yassar, the governor's spokesman, said Governor Ganduje donated the money to the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Athletic Federation of Nigeria for the anti-corruption campaign. However, in a swift reaction, EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, said the report was a deliberate attempt to malign the efforts of the commission in the fight against corruption.

Mr Orilade said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been drawn to a trending story in social media concerning a purported statement credited to the media aide of the Kano State governor to the effect that the commission got a N10m donation from the state government. The story is not falsehood but a deliberate attempt to malign the efforts of the commission in the fight against corruption.

“For the records, it is a tradition that the EFCC does not receive donations from state governors/government or any individual at that. The EFCC, as a reputable anti-graft agency is sponsored by federal government through budgetary allocation and in some cases, foreign organisations in terms of capacity building.

“It is true that the commission, in collaboration with the ICPC and the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and other stakeholders is organising the first National Anti-Corruption Marathon. Mr Jacob Onu, the leader of the National Anti-Corruption Marathon had in the course of his visit to the commission a fortnight ago told the acting chairman and his management about the marathon which he said is being planned in tandem with the International Anti-Corruption Day which usually comes up on December 9 every year.

“He said it was aimed at raising national consciousness on the scourge and danger of corruption to the country and the need for all and sundry to join hands to eradicate it. It is therefore very shocking to read of a purported donation of N10m to the commission as the story is not only unfounded but very mischievous.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no state governor or some other individual or group has donated any amount of money to the EFCC to carry out the Anti-corruption Marathon project or any other project for that matter.”