What Group Told Buhari About His Ministers’ Appointment

A group, Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative (ARDI) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to consider including names of persons standing corruption trial and those with corrupt tendencies in his new cabinet.

Naija News reports that the Executive- Secretary, of the group, Dennis Aghanya gave the advice in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, June 9 in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Aghanya said sidelining corrupt persons yet to be prosecuted and those standing trial would bestow more credibility on the president.

“This has become necessary to avoid situations whereby cabinet members would use public funds to defend their corruption cases pressed against them by the EFCC or any other anti-graft agencies.

“To achieve this, the EFCC and all the anti-graft agencies in the country should also re-double their efforts in the discharge of their duties in public interest to ensure that names of persons in this category are forwarded to Mr. President to guide him in his appointments.

“The EFCC in particular is overwhelmed with cases bordering on economic fraud and may therefore not remember to ensure this duty.

“This is why we are highlighting this matter at this crucial period when Mr. President would be taking decisions that will border on appointing credible team that will work with him.

“As a matter of commitment to a successful second tenure of Mr. President, especially as it has to do with the fight against corruption, we are bringing up this matter.

“This is not because we have anybody targeted in mind but to serve as a wake-up call on all the parties concerned to discharge their duties efficiently.

“This is also important so that nobody would take the blame game to the doorstep of Mr. President after he has made his appointments’’, Aghanya said.