Pro-Democracy Group Condemns EFCC’s Arrest of Bauchi Accountant General, Alleges Political Witch-Hunt
Bauchi, Nigeria – A storm of controversy has erupted over the recent arrest of Bauchi State Accountant General, Sagir Jaja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with a pro-democracy group, Eyes on Democracy, condemning the move as a politically motivated attack on Governor Bala Mohammed.
Addressing a press conference at the NUJ Secretariat in Bauchi on Monday, the group’s state chairman, Munir Aska, described the arrest as a direct attempt to silence Governor Mohammed for his vocal criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.
“The arrest of the accountant general is not just disturbing, it is undemocratic,” Aska stated. “Governor Bala Mohammed has consistently spoken truth to power, and now, political adversaries are using the EFCC to intimidate him and his administration.”
Jaja was reportedly detained last week in Abuja while attending the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, sparking outrage among supporters of the Bauchi State Government. Eyes on Democracy insists that no formal invitation was extended to the official prior to his arrest, further fueling suspicions of a politically charged agenda.
Government, Advocacy Groups Push Back
The Bauchi State Government has also joined in the condemnation, with Governor Mohammed’s media aide, Mukhtar Gidado, accusing the EFCC of engaging in media trials and ignoring due process.
“It is surprising that the EFCC is rushing to act when the matter is already under investigation by the Bauchi State Anti-Corruption Agency, led by a retired EFCC veteran, DIG Sani Mohammed,” Gidado remarked.
Similarly, another advocacy group, Bauchi Accountability and Truth Awareness Front (BATA), denounced the arrest, calling it a politically motivated witch-hunt designed to discredit the state’s leadership and destabilize governance.
Calls for Justice, Legal Action Loom
As tensions rise, Eyes on Democracy has called on civil society organizations, well-meaning Nigerians, and the international community to resist any attempts to use the EFCC as a political tool.
“We stand firmly with Governor Bala Mohammed. Any attempt to twist the law to humiliate him or any Bauchi State official will be met with strong resistance from the good people of Bauchi,” Aska declared.
Meanwhile, legal experts have suggested that Governor Mohammed’s legal team may challenge the EFCC’s actions in court if the agency is found to have acted outside the law.
With political tempers flaring and allegations flying, all eyes remain on the EFCC and its next move in what is quickly shaping up to be a high-stakes political and legal battle.