SHOULD EFCC ACCEPT DONATIONS FROM STATE GOVERNORS??

Definitely not! If you look at the trajectory of Nigerian political history, you will discover that we currently have more than five past governors who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. There is a saying in Yoruba that, if you have been a beneficiary of the goodness of a particular person, the likelihood is that you are likely to be biased in his or her favour. And from what we know, at least from the history of the Nigerian political class, some of these governors end up becoming accused persons which EFCC will be prosecuting.  I am aware that the cases of some past governors are still on-going in various courts. It can be argued that the governors are not giving the EFCC personal money; they are only giving the money on behalf of their states. But do not forget that if the governor does not approve any money, there will be no donation made. So, I think it is not right. It will be wise if the EFCC does not accept such donations. The EFCC should not even put itself in a position to be so offered donations because such a offering portends a great danger for the anti-corruption drive of the agency. If it is truly an independent anti-corruption body, the government that set it up should be able to fund it. That is why we are advocating that it should be on the first line charge so that the commission does not go cap in hand. They are not even supposed to go begging the executive for funds, let alone having to go round and collect donations from state governors. They should ordinarily not put themselves in a position to be offered. Prof. Wahab Egbewole (A former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin, Kwara State) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should never receive any form of donation from governors. Receiving any form of donation from governors could compromise the agency. The governors should also not make any donation; be it cash, equipment or accommodation to the anti-graft agency. Receiving any form of donation will definitely hamstring the EFCC from carrying out its statutory responsibility. The Yoruba people have a saying, ‘Tenu ba je oju ati’ which literally means: ‘Once you have received a gift from somebody in a compromised manner, it will be difficult to correct that person when he or she does wrong.’ So, it is quite wrong, from whatever angle one may look at it, for the EFCC to receive donations of any kind from any governor. What if the money for the donation is from looted funds? What happens when the governor leaves office? Definitely this will create a kind of moral burden for the EFCC. For me, I will say it is not only morally wrong for the EFCC to receive any form of donation from any governor, it is also legally wrong for any governor to make donations to the anti-graft agency. • Hakeem Adeyemi (Public Relations Officer, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State) Why should the EFCC accept donations from governors? The EFCC should never accept donations from governors. It is an anti-graft agency and should be unbiased. Besides, it is a Federal Government parastatal and it should be the responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure that it is self-financing. By the time it starts receiving donations from governors, can it probe the activities of the same governors? It will be a case of don’t bite the fingers that fed you. By that time, it would have compromised itself and the fight against corruption would have been defeated. The Federal Government should make it self-sufficient to make it an impartial arbiter. That will be in the interest of the country. The agency will lose its steam if it depends on individuals. Its survival should be self-guaranteed and sustainable. •**prbxselfnetwork***