EFCC'S Media Trials and the Culpability of the Nigerian Media

By Simeon Nwakaudu

The eradication of corruption is key to the faster growth  of the country.  Fighting  the menace of corruption should be wholistic for the good of the country.

However, the manner in which the EFCC fights corruption under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari leaves  much to be desired.

Before our eyes, the EFCC has been stripped of its honour, its integrity.  All forms of respect for the agency have evaporated  because  of the obvious disregard for the rule of law and due process.

The resort to extreme media trials has worsened corruption in the country.  It has made it difficult for anyone to take the agency seriously.

A case in point is  the media trial of the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.  This is the worst in recent history.

To drive home the orchestrated planned media conviction of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the EFCC planted a story in all traditional print and electronic media wherein it claimed that Ekweremadu collapsed  during 'grilling '.

This is corruption in itself. An agency charged with fighting  corruption used corrupt  means to derail public opinion.

The story titled: "Ekweremadu falls ill during interrogation by EFCC " was tasteless, irresponsible and unethical.  It was sad that all traditional media used screaming headlines to sell this propaganda. All the traditional print and electronic media who reported the planted news item did so as "EYE WITNESSES".

They published and broadcast as if they were present in the "GRILLING " room of the EFCC. No editor asked the basic question on such a sensitive  report, coming from an INTERESTED party.

The import of the alleged collapse of the Deputy Senate President was clear. The EFCC implied that when he  was confronted with data, Ekweremadu became frightened, took ill and could not face GRILLING .

This sad propaganda by EFCC is quite worrisome,  as the traditional media enumerated alleged property owned by Ekweremadu as outlined in the EFCC planted report. The media adjudged Ekweremadu guilty without hearing his side  of the story.

This is what Uche Anichukwu,
Special Adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate wrote about the propaganda by EFCC

"He reported at the EFCC on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at 10am as scheduled, but informed them that he was not feeling well, a fact the EFCC doctor confirmed. He was then allowed to leave to see his doctor and it was agreed that a new date would be fixed for continuation of the interview.

"So, there was no interrogation whatsoever on Wednesday, let alone presentation of so-called additional “facts” that purportedly triggered his blood pressure. Likewise, there were no new “facts” presented to him the previous day, Tuesday, July 31, beside those concocted by the dismissed Chief Judge of Enugu State, Innocent Umezulike and his cohorts in their petition."

EFCC is encouraged  to embark on media trials because they have  accomplices in the media. Gradually, the EFCC has gone under.

Has any media organisation taken concrete steps to investigate the DSS Report that led to the failure of the Senate to confirm the appointment of the EFCC Chairman? On two occasions, the DSS issued heart-rending reports on the leadership of the EFCC, the media swept the reports under the mat. The reports were never interrogated.

Rather, on a regular basis, EFCC plants ill-fated reports in the media. All these reports are basically, politically motivated.

The EFCC has thrown over-board the rule of law.  Sadly, the Nigerian Media is culpable in this unfortunate  reality.  By enthroning media trials, which is associated with lies, the EFCC has murdered the fight against corruption.  This is the reason behind the negative perception of the EFCC and the failed APC Federal Government.

Today, where is the whistle-blowing policy? It died a natural death because it was built around false propaganda and political vendetta.

This EFCC Misadventure  in the Ekweremadu's interrogation is a wake-up call to the media. You cannot continue to work with a politically motivated agency to derail national progress.

As presently constituted, the EFCC is a mere political tool in the hands of the failes APC Federal Government.  It can only hack down opponents of the APC.

This is the time for the Nigerian Media to retrace her steps regarding the coverage of the EFCC. The media should refuse to be willing tools in the hands of a politically motivated agency.  The very day the media begins to write ethical reports in relation to the EFCC, that is the day that media trials will end.  It is only then that the fight against corruption will start.                                             

Simeon Nwakaudu is the SA on Electronic Media to Gov. Wike.        
                                         
 – The opinions and views expressed in this article are solely those of the writer/author, and do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of National Vibes.