EFCC kicks against creation of Electoral Offences Commission

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the country does not need the National Electoral Offences Commission.

The commission said such commission is needless as Nigerian elections are seasonal.

Abdulrasheed Bawa, chairman of EFCC, said the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the police, EFCC and other law enforcement agencies are already empowered by extant laws to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes.

Bawa, who was represented by Deborah Ademu-Eteh, assistant commander at the EFCC, spoke on Tuesday at a public hearing organised by the house of representatives committee on electoral matters for a bill to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission.

“There is no need to create an agency solely for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting electoral offences most especially when our electoral process is seasonal in nature and elections are held once in four years in the country,” Bawa said.

“Furthermore, it is our suggestion that the existing law enforcement agencies should be strengthened to achieve maximum output instead of creating a new agency for investigation and prosecution of electoral offences in the light of the ongoing plan to implement the Oronsanye Committee’s proposal by the Federal Government Of Nigeria.”