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Ahmad Tijjani
A civil society organisation, Concerned Gombe Citizens, on Monday called on Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations linking former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, to the acquisition of high-value residential properties in Abuja.
The group, in a statement issued on Monday by its convener, Ibrahim Ilyas Kaltungo that was made available to Daily Independent, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to independently verify the claims and make the outcome of any investigation available to the public.
It stressed that while the allegations remain unproven, the nature of the claims has generated sufficient public interest to justify an impartial inquiry aimed at establishing the facts.
The group stated that public officials, particularly those who have held positions of trust, should be prepared to account for their assets whenever legitimate questions arise over their sources of wealth.
The organisation said anti-graft agencies should determine whether the properties allegedly linked to the former minister were lawfully acquired and whether all relevant provisions relating to asset declaration, public accountability and anti-corruption laws were complied with.
It further urged investigators to scrutinise relevant financial transactions, ownership records and the sources of funds connected with the alleged property acquisitions, insisting that the findings should be disclosed in the interest of transparency and public confidence.
“We respectfully call on the EFCC and the ICPC to carry out an independent and comprehensive investigation into these allegations without fear or favour,” the statement said.
The group added that if any breaches of the law are established after due investigation, the appropriate legal processes should be allowed to take their course, maintaining that consistent enforcement of anti-corruption laws is essential to strengthening public trust in democratic institutions.
Concerned Gombe Citizens said its demand was driven by the need to promote accountability in public service, arguing that equal application of the law, irrespective of an individual’s political status or previous office, remains fundamental to the country’s anti-corruption efforts.
