Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, said on Friday that the anti-graft agency and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are working together to monitor politicians’ sources of funds for party nomination forms.
The high cost fixed for the expression of interest and nomination forms by the two major political parties in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), has continued to attract criticisms and condemnation from Nigerians.
While the APC has pegged its presidential form at N100 million, the main opposition PDP fixed its own for N40 million.
Bawa, who spoke in an interview with Channels Television, expressed the anti-graft agency’s concern about ensuring that corrupt persons are not allowed to attain leadership positions in the country.
Bawa said, “Of course, it is quite some money. It will take a lifetime for you to save N40 million and N100 million.
“But as you know when it comes to the issue of monitoring of election funds and candidates’ funds, that has to do with the work of INEC in this regard.
“But of course, we are working hand in glove with INEC as well as other related agencies in that field to ensure that we follow the money and we know the source, whether it is legitimate or illegitimate, because that is what concerns us.
“Above all, we are concerned about good governance, transparency, accountability and we are concerned about ensuring that corrupt elements are not given leadership positions in this country.”
When asked whether the EFCC would be willing to partner with relevant agencies to monitor source of funds used for nomination forms, Bawa assured that the commission was already partnering with relevant agencies in that regard.
The EFCC boss added, “Certainly. That is why we are here. That is part of our mandate to investigate every movement of any fund to ensure legitimacy or otherwise.
“We are partnering already — not that we are willing to partner — and working together to ensure some certain sanctity of the system.”
