Stop EFCC from harassing me, Jonathan begs Buhari

-Former first lady, Patience Jonathan, accuses EFCC of witch hunting her and her family.

-The anti graft agency however denies any suggestion of such allegation, claiming Mrs. Jonathan is not the only one been investigated.

Dame Patience Jonathan, Nigeria’s former first lady, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and stop the malicious investigations the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched against her which she termed as a “witch-hunt”.

Speaking through her media aide, Mr Belema Meshack-Hart, on Monday in Abuja, Mrs. Jonathan said the EFCC’s plot was also been extended to her family members as well as her business partners.

She also specifically accused EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu of bias and intimidation.

He said that the EFCC boss was “spreading barefaced falsehood and propaganda against Mrs Jonathan in the name of investigations”.

Quoting Mrs Jonathan, Meshack-Hart said: “For almost three years, the EFCC has beamed its searchlight on me and my family members, including my siblings and parents, as well as my Foundation and Non-Governmental Organisation.

“As a tradition, every First Lady in this country has had one pet project or the other, with which they sought to intervene in the lives of the less privileged.’’

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Mrs. Jonathan explained that she launched her NGO 11 years ago, when her husband was the Governor of Bayelsa State ans has over the years since its inception, impacted various lives positively.

According to her media aide, “it is surprising that while other First ladies and their pet projects were left alone, it is only her activities and that of her NGOs that are being subjected to indefinite probe and microscopic scrutiny.

“It has come to a point where all the magnificent edifices in Abuja, Yenagoa or Port Harcourt are presented to the media as belonging to Mrs. Patience Jonathan. She has been accused of owning several plots of land in many cities across the country, including places she has never visited.

“The most astonishing of all is that her close relatives are being victimized and their personal properties are being investigated,” the statement stated.

The statement therefater, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and curtail the excesses of the Ibrahim Magu led EFCC.

Efforts to get the EFCC’s side of the story through their spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, were not successful, but responding on behalf of the commission, a senior official who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, denied suggestions that the anti graft agency was out on a witch hunt of anybody.

“We are not out on a witch hunt; we are not targeting anyone or family for a witch hunt; it is not only Mrs. Jonathan that is being investigated. Many people are answering questions in various places.

“Those found guilty will be charged before a competent court of law; those who have nothing to hide should have no fear because we shall not victimise anyone that is innocent”.

(NAN)