HURIWA Urges Caution on EFCC’s Actions Regarding Dangote and Bank Chiefs Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has called for careful consideration and discretion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its recent raids on Dangote Group and interrogations of bank CEOs.

HURIWA expressed concern over the sensational media coverage of these events, emphasizing that it may not be in Nigeria’s best commercial and economic interests.

HURIWA stated that leaking sensitive information about the investigations to the public could create negative perceptions about the quality control of Nigerian banks and their susceptibility to manipulation by politicians. The rights group cited reports that CEOs and MDs of Zenith Bank, Providus Bank, and Jaiz Bank were questioned by the EFCC regarding their alleged involvement in fraudulent activities related to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

While acknowledging that no one is above the law, HURIWA cautioned that invasive actions against successful businesses with significant investments and employment opportunities could have damaging effects on their reputation. The organization urged the EFCC officials to exercise caution and avoid creating lasting negative impacts on the corporate image of these businesses.

HURIWA agreed with the Dangote Group’s assertion that the recent raid on its corporate office was intended to cause maximum embarrassment. The rights group recognized the need for the EFCC to regain public confidence but advised them to conduct their work without excessive attention-seeking and dramatization.

HURIWA also highlighted a case involving the arrest of a former MD of Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abdulhameed, who was subsequently appointed as a Non-executive Director of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company plc. The organization questioned the rationale behind the arrest and subsequent appointment, raising concerns about consistency and credibility.

Furthermore, HURIWA expressed disappointment regarding the EFCC’s previous claims of widespread corruption among past governors, noting that only two out of the approximately 20 governors listed were convicted, and even they were eventually pardoned and freed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In their statement, HURIWA pledged ongoing support for anti-corruption efforts by both the EFCC and the ICPC while emphasizing the importance of combating corruption for sustainable development in Nigeria.