Eyes on Democracy demands release of detained Bauchi AG
By Umar Moh’d
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been advised to immediately release the detained Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja.
A political pressure group known as Eyes on Democracy made the request on Monday during a Press Conference at the NUJ Secretariat, Bauchi.
The group through its Chairman, Munir Aska declared that the arrest and detention of the Bauchi AG who is just six months in office is politically motivated and orchestrated by political adversaries to silence the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
The group noted with concern how the Accountant General was arrested while he was attending the FAAC meeting in Abuja for alleged mismanagement of funds to the tune of N70bn some years back when the present AG was not in office.
Eyes on Democracy, a pro democracy and good governance advocacy organization committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in Bauchi state and Nigeria at large appealed to EFCC to consider the immediate release of the innocent AG.
The group stated that Bala Mohammed is the target of the EFCC for being the strongest voice of Nigerian masses amidst the bad governance of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
“We strongly condemn the arrest, which we view as nothing but a politically motivated witch hunt designed to intimidate Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and his administration for speaking the minds of most Nigerians”, Munir added.
“This desperate move is clearly an attempt to silence a courageous leader who has consistently spoken truth to power, refusing to be cowed by the forces that seek to suppress democracy and good governance. Eyes on Democracy believes that it is not coincidence that these arrests and intimidation of State Government Officials are happening at a time when Governor Bala Abdulkadir has remained vocal in challenging the excesses of the presidency and standing firm in defense of the interests of the Nigerian people.”
The Chairman explained that the bold stance of Governor Bala has made him a target for persecution, and the EFCC is being weaponized as an instrument of political oppression rather than a true anti-corruption Agency.
“We are left wondering why the EFCC would arrest the Accountant General in such a manner, even though he was neither invited nor engaged in any way by Commission,”We, Eyes on Democracy, actively monitor government actions, expose political injustices, and defend democracy institutions against authoritarian tendencies. We unequivocally state that Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed manages state finance and resources prudently and transparently. Because of his exemplary leadership, Bauchi State is experiencing massive, unprecedented, and rapid developmental transformation in every aspect of human life.” He said
Munir therefore called on well meaning Nigerians, civil society organizations, and the international community to take note of these undemocratic action and resist any attempt to turn the EFCC into a political tool for oppression.
“We demand that EFCC operate within the bounds of the law. Any attempt to twist the law to humiliate and intimidate Governor Bala Mohammed and Bauchi State government officials will be met with strong resistance from the good people of Bauchi State,” he assured.
