We are not probing Kyari – EFCC

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed report in some quarter that it was probing the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff (COS), Mr. Abba Kyari.

The were reports that the anti-graft commission had invaded the home of Kyari in a bid to get him arrested.

Reacting, the EFCC said yesterday that it was not investigating Kyari, adding that it did not deploy its operatives in his Defence House quarters.

The alleged invasion was said to have been hatched by some forces and targeted at provoking President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Magu.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored the report and allow it to end up in the dustbin of history, for that is where it actually belongs, but for the fact that it is a follow–up to an earlier similar report also titled: EFCC’s attempt to arrest Abba Kyari sparks panic in Aso Rock, which we considered an attempt to silence the commission from carrying on with its constitutional duties of fighting corruption; we have considered it necessary to clarify issues in relation thereof.

“For the purpose of clarification, the modus operandi of the EFCC does not accommodate the alleged invasion as the modus operandi of the commission has always been to scrutinise petitions upon receipt, look at the petition on the face value, if it has merit and to carry out preliminary investigation to establish a prima facie case.

“Once all these requirements are satisfied, the suspect(s) is (are) invited for questioning and interrogation and his (their) statement(s) taken under caution.

“All these are prelude to arraignment in a competent court of jurisdiction and a suspect who is being invited for interrogation is formally sent an invitation letter to that effect.

“The so-called invasion is entirely alien to the established mode of operations of the EFCC, established over the last one-and-a-half decades in line with international best practices.

“Firstly, the commission will like to state that it is not investigating Mr. Kyari nor is it aware of any petition against him.

“Secondly, EFCC does not ‘invade’ the homes or offices of anyone the commission wishes to interact with in furtherance of the discharge of its mandate.

“The commission will properly notify and invite any person it wants to assist it in the resolution of any matter under examination.

“Thirdly, EFCC does not go to carry out invitations or arrests in the middle of the night. As a transparent organisation the commission carries out all its operations in broad daylight.

“These and other standard operational procedures are what guide the activities of the commission and which have earned it worldwide acclaim over the years.

“The commission was therefore taken aback when an online medium went public with the story of a purported “impending arrest”. EFCC does not do speculative investigations or arrests. Therefore, the action of those behind the false reports could best be described as shouting wolf where none exists.

“It must be underscored that EFCC makes it a point of duty and professional responsibility to act within the ambit of the law. The commission cannot be intimated and crying wolf by anyone cannot stop the commission from carrying out its constitutional responsibility,” the commission’s acting Head of Media and Publicity, Samie Amaddin said yesterday.