Revealed: Why EFCC Is After Oronsaye

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Politics Monday, July 13th, 2015

Having worked closely with Obasanjo, a man many love to loathe, Oronsaye does not enjoy the goodwill of majority.

This is partly because of the role he played in the exposure of fraud in pension administration at the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

This is the more reason he is being haunted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Global Village Extra gathered.

The EFCC is particular about Oronsaye because he succeeded in checking the spate of fraud by inviting the EFCC and other agencies but he did not succeed in eradicating the menace.

A report has revealed that Oronsaye “crossed the line” with the EFCC in 2012, when the Committee he chaired recommended the merger of the EFCC with other related agencies.

Furthermore, as chairman of the Presidential Committee on FATF, he has been leading the campaign for the establishment of a legal framework for the NFIU, which will give the body the legal authority to carry out its responsibilities as an independent and autonomous national centre for the receipt, analysis and dissemination of financial intelligence to law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria. Oronsaye has also championed the passage of the following Bills: Proceeds of Crime Bill (2014), POCA and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill (2014).

These, in the estimation of the EFCC, will render the agency unnecessary.

EFCC insiders disclosed that the EFCC boss had attempted to strike a deal with Teidi to help them “nail” Oronsaye by “confessing” that he gave the man money as claimed by Chidi, but Teidi reportedly maintained that his conscience would not let him “nail” an innocent man.

Though the case had been closed and Oronsaye cleared of any link to the fraud, it was suddenly revisited because a witness made “additional” statements.

It was also gathered that the EFCC also attempted to force one Ann Igwe, the former secretary of the former Chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, to “confess” that she gave Oronsaye money.

Again, the woman claimed she had never had a meeting with Oronsaye nor did she give him any money.

The question on observers’ lips now is: “Why is the EFCC trying to force ‘confessions’ out of people just to ‘nail’ an innocent man?”