The Northern Youths Movement (NYM) has demanded for an independent probe of the controversies over the N19. 33 billion Kogi salary bailout funds the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed it recovered to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Naija News reports that EFCC had said that the Kogi State Government had kept N19.33 billion bailout fund meant to pay salaries in Sterling Bank in a bid to yield interest.
According to the anti-graft agency, the money was recovered and returned to CBN.
However, the Kogi State Government, which insisted that it did not open or create the said account with Sterling Bank, asked the EFCC to apologise and retract it’s statement.
Rising from its meeting in Abuja on Saturday, the NYM also chided the EFCC over what they called unending regime of media trial and unconstitutional actions.
The group said it was the imperative for a panel comprising representatives of the CBN, Sterling Bank, Federal Ministry of Finance, Accountant
General of the Federation, Kogi State Government, EFCC, Police Special Fraud Unit, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and Civil Society Organizations to be set up to investigate the matter.
In the statement signed by its Chairman, Ishaya Jato, the NYM also carpeted the EFCC for placing Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State under watchlist.
The group stated that the commission’s action constitutes a clear affront on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The youths said it was time the EFCC begins to act within the ambit of the laws of Nigeria and stop jumping to the media space, acting like
a political tool.
It wondered why no one has been put on trial if truly the EFCC claim on the alleged N19.33 billion fund was true.
The group asked if in saner climes, a whooping sum of N19.33 billion bailout fund meant to pay workers salaries will be discovered to have
been kept in a commercial bank account meant to yield interest and no one will be prosecuted.
This article was originally published on Naija News