A coalition of local civil society organizations based in Bauchi State has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure speedy prosecution of governor-elect of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed.
In a petition to the acting chairman of the EFCC Ibrahim Magu, signed by one Comrade Hussein Mohammed as Coordinator, Bauchi Civil Society Organization Network charged the anti-graft agency to Prosecute Mohammed before he begins to enjoy immunity.
Mohammed, who was a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has been declared the winner of the recent Bauchi State governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He is scheduled to be sworn in on May 29, and according to the constitution, should immediately begin to enjoy immunity from prosecution after taking oath as an Executive Governor.
The group, in its letter, encouraged the EFCC to fast track the trial and prosecution of Mohammed, stressing that it “is gradually inching closer to robbing himself with the cloak of immunity in order to escape from justice.”
It kicked against the insinuation that EFCC had to suspend the multi-billion-naira corruption trial of Bala Mohammed, on the ground that he is now a governor-elect.
The group argued that immunity from criminal prosecution cannot be extended to a governor-elect.
The petitioners said, “We make bold to say that the commission is obligated to making this a test case by ensuring a day to day trial in line with the administration of criminal justice act.”
The EFCC has filed a fresh 6-counts charge bordering on false declaration of assets and giving false information before an FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
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