Posted by By JACOB EDI, Abuja on
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday declared that any candidate found wanting in his asset declaration will not only be jailed but also be banned from participating in partisan politics for life.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday declared that any candidate found wanting in his asset declaration will not only be jailed but also be banned from participating in partisan politics for life.
According to the chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, while delivering a paper at the three-day retreat organised for elected candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the commission would verify assets declared by public officers. He said that assets found not to have been declared would be confiscated by the government.
The EFCC chairman, who was full of praises for President Olusegun Obasanjo for setting up the commission, said that the activities of the body would outlive the Obasanjo administration. He said that there would be necessary laws to back up the EFCC.
"For those of you who are going into politics because you want to make money, just forget it. What we are planning to do now is that even when you declare your assets, we shall investigate if you are hiding anything and if we get anything, such person will be in trouble," Ribadu declared amid cheers from the participants.
While emphasising that it will never be business as usual, Ribadu said the nation has moved on. "Nigeria has changed and there's no going back. From the just concluded PDP convention everybody will understand what is going on," said Ribadu.
He urged the leadership of PDP not to hesitate in disqualifying any of its candidates who does not meet up with set standards just as he urged the candidates to identify with the anti-corruption crusade. He equally called on other political parties to organize a similar seminar for their candidates ahead of the April general election.
However, former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, was absent at the retreat. He was supposed to chair a session on "Free and Fair Elections in 2007: An update."
No official reason was given for his absence.