Posted by By Kazeem Ugbodaga & Eromosele Ebhomele on
The mention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would send shivers down the spine of some prominent Nigerians who now see the fear of the anti-graft body as the beginning of wisdom.
The mention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would send shivers down the spine of some prominent Nigerians who now see the fear of the anti-graft body as the beginning of wisdom.
To escape the roving eyes of the commission, they would either abstain from attending some events or refuse to make public pronouncements or donations at such events.
This was the case at the launch of an autobiography, Life On The Service Lane, written by Asiwaju Reuben Olorunfunmi Basorun to mark his 70th birthday anniversary.
Two former ambassadors, Wahab Dosunmu and Rufai Adetunji Sule, were among prominent invited guests who stunned the crowd that came to witness the event when they declined to disclose how much they were donating at the launch.
While others who refused to mention theirs claimed it was a matter of principle, Ambassador Dosunmu, who was also a one-time Minister of Works, emphasized that he was afraid of the EFCC.
'Just last week, the EFCC claimed that the case files of some governors are missing. I don't want my own case file to be with the EFCC,' Dosunmu said, to the amusement of guests at the event.
Taking a cue from the ex-minister, Ambassador Sule, who was Nigeria's former ambassador to Australia, said his colleague said 'he doesn't want to have a problem with the EFCC. So I am not mentioning mine so that I won't also have a problem with the EFCC.'
Their remarks attracted widespread laughter but the import of what they said was not lost on the high profile audience. The event, which was well attended, witnessed eulogies for the celebrant, who was the Secretary to the Lagos State Government between 1979 and 1983, before the military took over political power in the country on 31 December, 1983.