A group, under the auspices of Coalition of Bauchi Youths For Development (CBYD) has termed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as a tool of intimidation and harassment of opposition leaders since the inception of the current administration.
The group in a statement signed by the coordinator, Comrade Adamu Nasir said the arrest of the former minister of Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Bala Mohammed was politically motivated as the former minister was one of the best that had handled the FCT.
Nasir called for the immediate release of Mohammed saying his arrest was not done in the interest of the fight against corruption but as a clampdown on opposition leaders by the ruling party APC.
“I wish to condemn in its entirety the recent politically motivated arrest and detention of the immediate past Minister of FCT, Alhaji Bala Mohammed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.
“His illegal arrest and detention which was claimed by EFCC as a follow-up of series of petitions filed against him by individuals and groups since 2013 was nothing but a phantom of fabrications. The activities of the of EFCC has become a tool of harassment and intimidation of opposition leaders since the inception of this administration,” he lamented.
He stated further that the tenure of Bala in the capital territory was one of the best as he embarked on and completed many projects which have changed the face of FCT. “Also improvement in infrastructures during his time has not been equal by any in the past.
“We therefore call on EFCC to release Alhaji Bala Mohammed immediately as his arrest was not done in the interest of the fight against corruption but as one of the clamp downed on opposition leaders by the ruling party APC,” he said.