Protesters at EFCC: Demands investigations of Minister of Petroleum

Juliana Francis
The group, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders(CACOL), with hundreds of their supporters, today, marched to the office of the  Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) in Lagos, demanding that the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke should be investigated.

The group and supporters stormed the office of EFCC around 9.45am, and were barred from entering the premises, but later reluctantly allowed in after several anti-corruption songs.
The Executive Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adediran submitted a three-page petition to the Lagos Head of Operations, EFCC, Mr. Ilyasu Kwarbi.
Adediran demanded in his petition that EFCC should investigate the alleged deal between the minister and other oil companies as well as the rate of oil thefts which had occurred during her stay in office her tenure among others.

 Adediran said: "We call on the commission to urgently commence a probe into various allegations of corrupt practices levelled against the person of the minister of petroleum; such allegations which include abuse of office, wastage of nation's resources among others.”
He said that the coalition refused to believe that there existed any clique of the 'untouchables' to which she might probably belonged, adding “This is why we are joining our voices to others to demand that the commission commence without delay, the process of probing the office of the minister, beaming their investigative searchlight on those areas of her activities."
He wanted the EFCC to be objective in its investigation, adding that was the only way the country could move forward.
Adedira maintained that CACOL as a group of organizations with the objective of fighting corruption and corrupt persons at all level would not want, or encourage anyone to jump into any conclusion on any allegation without availing those alleged the opportunity to defend themselves.

According to him, CACOL had not concluded that the alleged is either guilty or innocent. However CACOL had reasons to believe that the matter was on the verge of being swept under the carpet, especially judging by various political manoeuvrings noticeable among the ruling elite in the country and their political allies. Kwarbai assured that the commission would look into the allegations in accordance with the law.
Kwarbai said:  "I appreciate your peaceful coordination. We don't fear anybody or organisation but you should know that when allegations are brought, we need evidences for defence in the law court. We don't sweep petitions under the carpet, we treat them and you should know that we receive petitions everyday and they have to be sorted one after the other. I will forward the petition to the chairman for approval. Our integrity matter to us and we have put structures in place to ensure that."