Leading Civil Society Groups in the anti-corruption community, have strongly condemned the recent action by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun in withdrawing police personnel from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission under whatever guise.
The CSOs include the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) committed to anti-corruption and good governance.
This withdrawal, which reportedly follows investigations into multi-billion Naira corruption allegations against the National Chairman of the ruling All-Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, raises serious concerns about the politicization of law enforcement agencies.
The CSOs said that the withdrawal of approximately 40 policemen providing security and investigative support has severely undermined the crucial work of the anti-corruption agency in Kano State and threatens the constitutional requirements of the police’s impartiality and independence.
A joint statement signed by leaders of the groups, Olanrewaju Suraju, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani and Zikrillahi Ibrahim respectively, said, “It is deeply troubling that law enforcement resources are being redirected away from combating corruption and instead appear to be utilized to obstruct investigations into high-profile individuals and undermine accountability. This action threatens the principles of federalism, transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.”
The statement emphasized the need for the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to prioritize the integrity and independence of law enforcement agencies. It urged the IGP to refrain from any actions that could be perceived as politically motivated, emphasizing that the fight against corruption should be free from political interference. The groups commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Source Offenses Commission (ICPC) for their commendable response when Dr. Ganduje attempted to manipulate them against the Kano State Anti-Corruption Commission.
Considering these concerns, the groups called on the IGP to immediately reinstate police support to the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission. They stressed the importance of ensuring that law enforcement agencies remain impartial and committed to combating corruption in Nigeria. The statement concluded by urging the IGP to embrace professionalism and uphold the principles of justice and accountability in the execution of his duties.
Corruption poses a significant threat to the development and progress of our nation, and it is imperative that all stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and governments, work together in a concerted effort to combat the scourge.
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