EFCC Faults The Sun Newspaper Report, Says Jonathan Didn’t Starve Anti-graft Agency Of Funds

efcc-chairman-ibrahim-lamorde1-360222345The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied media report that it claimed the outgoing administration deprived it of the much-needed funds to function effectively.

The anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Tuesday, said a report by the Sun newspaper quoting the commission’s chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, to have said that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration starved the EFCC of fund for effective operation, is pure fabrication.

The Tuesday edition of Sun newspaper carried the screaming headline, “Jonathan Starved EFCC of Funds – Lamorde”, with the rider the EFCC boss indicted the out-going administration of poor performance.

The newspaper reported Mr. Lamorde as speaking through the commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Uwujaren.

Mr. Uwujaren said “In the first place, Lamorde who is currently out of the country did not speak with the media and could not have made the comments attributed to him by The Sun newspapers”.

He said the occasion that provided for the “false fabrication” by the tabloid was a media briefing by the commission addressing 40 journalists on Monday.

Mr. Uwujaren, who chaired the briefing, said at no point did he comment on the performance or lack of it by the present administration.

Uwujaren pointed out that he was only asked questions on the commission’s view on the focus of the incoming administration led by president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, in its fight against corruption.

He said he responded that, “the Commission, like most Nigerians who are bothered about the problem of corruption, welcomes the focus which he believes will further empower the EFCC in the pursuit of its mandate of fighting economic crimes and corruption”.

He said, it is a great disservice to society when journalists fabricate and twist issues to serve motives that are not altruistic.