The leadership of the Obidient Movement has accused Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of witch-hunting its members.
The accusation follows the invitation and detention of two members of the movement — Peter Akah and Oruche Precious — over the alleged abuse of the naira. The duo have since been released but were asked to report back to the agency.
Both activists, Peter and Mama Pee, had also declared that they would not be intimidated or forced into silence after completing a second round of questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of naira abuse. They also reaffirmed their total support for the Obidient Movement and its principal, Peter Obi.
The movement described the investigation as politically motivated and accused the EFCC of failing to probe what it called “humongous atrocities and economic sabotage” committed by those in authority.
“We see through this smoke screen. Nobody is under any illusion that the EFCC under the aimless leadership of Tinubu’s kinsman, Ola Olukoyede, is fighting genuine corruption or out to make the country better,” the Obidient Movement said in a statement.
The Obidient Movement further claimed the anti-graft agency is carrying out targeted intimidation against major supporters of Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“This is a targeted attempt to intimidate key supporters of our principal, Mr Peter Obi, while the real criminals robbing Nigeria blind are given executive treatment,” it said.
It also cited the case of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) Director-General, Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, with their fictitious agency.
The movement also called for the investigation of those in power and other politicians, including the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; the former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, among others.
“A serious agency would have beamed its searchlight on the Association of Past & Present Criminals (APPC), who have continued to find shelter in the APC,” the movement said.
“Nigerians already know that the easiest way to avoid any form of scrutiny is to join the APC. That is why anyone who has a major corruption case is more likely to join the party to escape the harassment of the EFCC.
“If the commission truly wants to fight corruption, it must focus its energy on the APC and APPC. By the time it is done thoroughly investigating members of the criminal SPV, Nigeria would be rid of more than 95 per cent of its corruption,” it added.
The movement warned that the Obidient Movement will not stand by while the EFCC performs what it called “a political hatchet job” for President Tinubu and the APC.
“We will not stand idly and watch the EFCC perform a political hatchet job for Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC. We will stand firmly behind Peter for Nigeria and Mama Pee, and we strongly advise the commission to stop straining at gnats while swallowing camels,” the statement added.
