Probe Tinubu’s bullion van if you don’t need petition on yahoo boys, Activist replies EFCC

Segun Awosanya, a social media activist popularly known as Segalink has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Mr Awosanya and the anti-graft agency began their latest war of words on Twitter, over the recent clampdown on internet fraudsters widely referred to as Yahoo boys.

The EFCC on Wednesday quoted a section of its act that mandates it to investigate and prosecute those found to be living above their source of livelihood.

“Section 7 (1) (b) of EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 gives us the power to investigate “properties of any person if it appears to the Commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income,” the anti-graft agency said in response to a query, by a user on the micro-blogging site, on why it is ruthlessly going after the alleged scammers.

Disagreeing with the commission is activist Segalink who is of the opinion that the corruption fight of the agency is only tagged at the fraudsters and opposition politicians.

The activist in one of his instances queried why the commission has refused to investigate bullion vans laden with cash and said to have entered the home of the former Lagos State governor, despite the open admittance by Tinubu that the cash were his and none of nobody’s business.

The anti-graft agency replied asking him to submit a petition to that effect for prompt action.

“Kindly forward your petitions to [email protected] or visit any of our Zonal offices or Head office to submit a copy of your petition. Cheers,” EFCC responded but the defiant activist is now buying the idea.

Segalink queried why he should submit a petition calling for the probe of the former governor when previous petitions by him to the commission is said to be unattended to till date. He said judging from the section quoted by the anti-graft agency, it does not need a petition to probe the APC leader who admitted owning the cash conveyed to his residence.

“The @officialEFCC in their primitive chest thumping about Section7(1) of their establishment Act of 2004, forgot that they have the same power over the likes of Tinubu as they do over alleged YahooBoys to act based on probable cause. Why expect petition from us?” he asked in series of tweets.

“Nasiru Danu was the logistic director to the GMB Campaign org. In fact it was affirmed that he procured the bike crashed by the President’s son. He was deported of late from the UK under the allegation of money laundering with Millions of Pounds in cash & fake Maltesse passport.

“Since his deportation, has @officialEFCC invited him for questioning let alone deployed the erotic Section 7 (1) of EFCc establishment Act, 2004 to investigate his source of wealth? Just for your info, I know Danu from the days when he used to be bailed out for petty crimes.

“Years back I exposed @AbdulAbmJ’s fraudulent antics and his 17 bank accounts local and foreign despite signing a CCB form that he had no foreign account. I showed the world documents and modus of siphoning money from MDAs after appropriation, till date @officialEFCC is mute.

“Is section 7(1) impotent against his likes? Is this not an advanced form of yahoo right within the core of public office? So with all the budget and their new building their boss is using to strengthen institution, they are powerless against real economic and financial crimes?” the activist queried.

The Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 makes it illegal for any individual to accept or make any cash payment that exceeds N5m (Five Million Naira). This means that every cash transaction over N5m must be done via a financial institution.

“Any person found guilty of contravening this is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than 3 years or a fine of N10m (Ten Million Naira) or to both,” the EFCC said in a statement it made earlier in the year while warning Nigerians.