Anti-corruption crusader says CCB is comprised, calls for EFCC investigations

dimeji akinloye

July 12, 2016 6:00 AM

Adeniran said failure of the CCB to verify the value of Buratai's assets and to juxtapose it with his verifiable legitimate earnings is questionable.

Anti-corruption activist and Executive Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Mr.

The COAS had admitted that he owns two choice properties in Dubai, but insisted he purchased the assets with his personal savings and not with illicit funds as been reported - he also claimed to have declared the properties twice in his assets declaration documents, in which the CCB corroborated.

Prominent groups and individuals, including human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, had called for Buratai's resignation or sack since the story of the assets, valued at $1.5 million, broke out.

In a statement by Adeniran, he said the purpose the CCB was created for was to verify assets declared by public officials so as to detect and avoid cases of false declaration of assets.

“The truth is that we need to be circumspect in approaching the Buratai case, for it is the duty of the CCB to ascertain the value of all assets declared by a public official before it and bring to fore if discrepancies exist in the declarations.

"That is how other agencies like EFFC can swing into action to investigate if financial or economic crimes are being violated,” he said.

READ: FG clears Buratai of wrongdoing in Dubai property case

Adeniran however called on the Economic Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) to investigate Buratai.

“With the benefit of the information on the ground, the EFCC must commence investigations into all angles to the case as the commission is empowered in Section 7 of its Act.

"How an Army General managed to save $1.5m has to be explained to Nigerians. Thus the EFCC needs to thoroughly carry out its investigations, including the verification of the value of the assets declared by the COAS.

"Should any crime be found to have been committed by the COAS, then he should be tried, and if found guilty, he must resign and face the sanctions of his crime."

He added that the CCB officials must also be investigated and prosecuted if found guilty of compromising the Bureau's integrity.

dimeji akinloye