The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied reports of the existence, or an impending face-off with the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
A statement issued on Thursday by the Commission’s spokesman Mr Wilson Uwujaren, however, attributed the rumours to corrupt persons who have continued to push the false narrative into media headlines.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, wishes to categorically state that it is compliant with all provisions of law and has no intention to stoke a misunderstanding over requests from the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.”
The anti-graft agency noted that its mandate, operational philosophy and the conduct and pronouncements of its officials do not go against the fringes of the law.
It further condemned reports that its principal officials were either in conflict with or readying for a ‘showdown’ with the AGF or other government officials.
“Any such ‘conflicts’ being paraded in the media exist only in the apparently fertile imaginations of corrupt elements angling to knock heads together in furtherance of their own pro-corruption agenda.
“All the brouhaha raised in recent days over a non-existent conflict between the EFCC and the office of the AGF only go to underline the fact that corruption can and is fighting back in a variety of ways,” the statement said.
The EFCC maintained that none of its operations had ever contravened the law, or had been in opposition to constituted authorities.
“The Commission wishes to underscore that the EFCC is a creation of statute and its operations and officials being as they are, guided by the firm, unambiguous provisions of those laws and regulations, are not and can never be in contravention of the law or opposition to constituted authority.”
