A coalition of Ethic Nationalities across the six geopolitical zones on Wednesday protested against the alleged persecution of some key members of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s family by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission under the guise of war against corruption.
This is even as the groups alleged that operatives of the EFCC, Department of State Services and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies had twice invaded the Abuja residence of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
Dame Jonathan was said to have been out of the house when the visit was made without any formal notice or warrant to that effect.
The protest, billed for the National Assembly, was however held at the Federal Secretariat by the coalition, based on the Police blocking the protesters movement.
At the protest rally, the coalition, comprising of Ijaw Youths, Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum and Yoruba Youth Council among others expressed their displeasure over the ongoing trial of Dame Jonathan and a cousin to former President, Roberts Azibaola, and his wife, Stella, by the EFCC on what they described as phantom charges.
The protesters, carrying various inscriptions lampooning the anti-graft agency, called on the National Assembly and concerned Nigerians to help in arresting the ugly trend.
Consequently, in a joint signed communique issued by leaders of the various ethics nationalities and addressed to the leadership of the National of Assembly, for EFCC to be called to order over its alleged witch hunting of the Jonathan family members.
They called on the Federal lawmakers to make the anti-graft agency adhere strictly to the principle of the Rule of Law in any of its operations being an agency set up by an Act of Parliament.
“An agency set up by an Act of Parliament in a constitutional democracy can definitely not be allowed to be turned into a tool for witch hunting of perceived enemies by any government in power,” they said.
They specifically condemned the freezing of the account of the former First Lady and other innocent people related to her without any investigation, saying: “This is direct violation of one of three cardinal tenets of the rule of law as regards promotion of human and protection from arbitrariness.”
According to them, the so-called prosecution of Patience Jonathan in particular by the EFCC on alleged money laundering is nothing but media trial, which they say will not in any was add any value to the war against corruption.
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