The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has denied reports by a section of the media, insinuating that the ongoing investigation of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Oyo-Ita by the Commission was instigated by the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Abba Kyari.
The anti-graft agency in a statement released on Monday 26th 2019, said the claims were untrue as Mrs Oyo-ita is being investigated based on intelligence reports received by the agency, saying:
“The Commission wishes to state that there is no truth in these claims, and urges the general public to disregard the reports as the handiwork of mischief-makers.
For the avoidance of doubt, the investigation by the EFCC is evidence-based. Most often, they are triggered by petitions or intelligence. In the case of the HoS, Oyo- Ita’s investigation, it was prompted by intelligence received by the Commission”
The commission in its statement, stated further that it’s agency is not a tool to settle personal scores, as:
“The EFCC is an independent agency created by law to fight corruption without fear or favour. In the discharge of its mandate, the Commission does not take instructions from extraneous bodies neither will it lend itself to be used to settle scores by anyone” the agency stated.
EFCC also appealed to the media to be circumspect in their reportage and not lend themselves to actions that could befuddle the activities of the Commission.