By Olanrewaju Ajao The Federal Government has denied any plan to use anti-corruption agencies to harass or intimidate the opposition figures.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accused the government of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other state institutions to punish its spokesman, Olisa Metuh and other chieftains for criticizing the government.
In an interview with State House correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting the Minister of Information of Culture, Lai Mohammed said contrary to what the PDP said, the Government was not dictating to the nation’s anti-graft agencies on who to arrest or prosecute.
The minister urged journalists to also conduct their independent investigations on the allegations leveled against the suspects and verify if they were genuine or not.
“I think the first point to make is that this government is not micro-managing any of the anti-graft agencies. I know for a fact that they don’t contact the President or anybody before they do their job.
“I think the media also has to do more than they are doing right now, they should investigate these allegations and also make their independent judgment about it.
“Honestly, if the EFCC or ICPC says that they are able to trace certain amount of money to my account, I don’t want you to believe it, I want you to also ask for proof; do your investigation.
“I can assure you that this government, no functionary in government micromanages or directs the EFCC or ICPC on who to arrest and who not to arrest,” the minister said.
