Farida Waziri The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it is not out to stop any aspirant or candidate from contesting in 2011 outside the court.
It also said it had no power to ban any candidate.
The commission, which made the clarifications in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said the list of high-profile cases, being vaunted as advisory list, had been in public domain since 2008.
The EFCC said the innocent aspirants need not be jittery about a list on status of cases being prosecuted by the commission.
It assured that it won’t trample on the right of any Nigerian and will not ban any aspirant from contesting in 2011.
The commission said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to a barrage of mixed reactions following media reports on a list of high profile cases being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency.
“The commission has decided to clarify some of the issues raised in the publications in the interest of members of the public who might be misled by the selfish arguments of some hired commentators who are desperate to stifle the nation’s anti-graft war.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC has repeatedly emphasised that it does not have the power to ban or disqualify any person from contesting for a public office and does not intend to embark on actions outside its responsibility.
“The commission under its present leadership has been working and remains fully committed to working strictly within the rule of law.
“It is however suarprising that the mere publication of a list of cases being prosecuted in courts by newspapers has generated so much reactions from those who are yet to discharge their burden of corruption charges as well as their fans and agents alike.
“It is more disturbing given the fact that the list that has elicited the flurry of reactions has been on the Commission’s website since 2008 and all the facts therein have been in the public domain since the trial of the accused persons began.
“The list is neither a covert or overt strategy, intention, ploy nor agenda of the EFCC to arrogate to itself the power of a law court.
“Thus, it is patently assumptive and speculative of anyone or any group to accuse the Commission of using its power to stop aspirants. The Commission never states or pretends that it has any power to stop aspirants.
“What the list simply represents is a public disclosure of the gamut of its prosecutorial efforts in the war against corrupt practices, an information that has since remained in the public domain for several months.
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