By Jubril Tobir
An Abuja based Civil Society Organisation, Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum (ACIF), has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) a 7-day ultimatum to make public their findings on the corruption allegations levelled against the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.
In a letter dated October 27, 2022, written to the EFCC and ICPC, signed by its Director of Communication, Bashorun Oladokun Abdulwajeed and made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, alleged a deliberate attempt to sweep the case under the carpet and threatened court action against the anti-graft agencies if they failed to act upon this allegation.
ACIF revealed it observed the near comatose state of JAMB under the leadership of Oloyede, recalling that a sister Civil Society Organisations, Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI), had on August 21, 2022 written a petition, drawing attention of the anti-graft agencies to certain indicting facts and documents uncovered against Oloyede.
The Forum recalled that TADI on September 19, 2022 had also wrote the EFCC reiterating the need for Oloyede and Mufutau Alabi Bello who presently serve as Director of Finance & Accounts (DFA) of JAMB to be investigated and possibly prosecuted for the economic crimes they have committed.
The letter reads in part:
“We are at a loss as to the quietness, lethargy and cold feet developed by the Commission regarding the allegations as if the same has been swept under the carpet probably because the persons involved are in high profile positions.
The fact that Oloyede and Bello are still walking the streets freely while looting JAMB dry under your watchful eyes is rather worrisome.
Sir, you will agree with us that the benefits of a corruption-free society cannot be over-emphasized. Therefore, we owe it as a public duty to ensure that the battered image of the country in the eyes of the international community due to the high level of corruption is redeemed at all costs before President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office on May, 29, 2023.
It is on that note that we hereby demand, based on the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 that you avail us the status report of the investigation concerning Oloyede and Bello within Seven days from the date hereof.
This will help allay our fear that justice is being delayed and put us in a proper position to answer numerous questions coming to us from prying members of the public.
“If you fail to act as herein demanded, we shall institute proceedings under Section 1 (3) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 for purposes of seeking, amongst other reliefs, an Order of Mandamus compelling you to carry out your duties under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment, Etc) Act, 2004 and other extant laws”.
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