CCDI Condemns Killing Of United States Consulate Officials, Calls For Thorough Investigations 

The Center for Convention on Democratic integrity, (CCDI) has condemned in strong term, the unwarranted killing of four locals of United States Consulate Lagos Office, Tuesday in Anambra, Southern Nigeria by unknown killers.

In a statement issued and signed by the President of the International organisation which operates in Nigeria and United States with United Nations Consultative status, Olufemi Aduwo expressed shock and outrage at the killing of United States Consulate Lagos Office workers.

He said the murder in cold blood of the United States foreign Mission officials is not only worrisome but a thing of shame which he could not fathom any reason for the barbaric act. Aduwo said in the release “Definitely, the vehicles were clearly identified with the United States’ Consulate Plate numbers, hence it was deliberate and planned attack and the perpetrators must be brought to book within the shortest possible time.

The CCDI believe the calculated attack on the US citizens demands thorough investigation, calling on President Buhari, to urgently set up multi security agencies investigation team made up of Directorate of State Services, (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence lntelligence Agency (DIA) and

Police with assistance from United States security agency to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the attack.

We believe, the attack has political undertone. We offer our deepest condolences to the United States foreign Mission in Nigeria, families and loved ones of those who were killed and injured in the unwarranted attack. Any attack against diplomats or diplomatic facilities anywhere is unacceptable. We remind the Government of Nigeria of its responsibility under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to protect foreign diplomats in Nigeria.This is unacceptable. Both diplomats and non diplomats of Foreign Missions in Nigeria should be protected”

ln another development, Aduwo condemned the re – appointment letter that President Buhari sent to the Senate to confirm the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), AbdulRasheed Bawa for second term, saying Buhari should allow the incoming President to reconstitute EFCC board.

He said currently EFCC is more or less a toothless bulldog and Pro – graft agency saying the Chairperson has displayed sign of weaknesses. Apart from parading hapless yahoo boys, how many serious corruption cases has the agency successfully concluded. Where is Governor Yaya Bello’s wife declared wanted long ago, where was EFCC, when political parties nominated people that their cases are pending in courts to contest election and many of them won.

Why is President Muhammadu Buhari in hurry to give Bawa a second term in office with few days to his leaving office. Afterall, Magu was in acting capacity for many years and more importantly who says only people from the northern part of the country have saints who should manage EFCC.Since inception till date, all the EFCC Chairpersons are from the Northern Nigeria and they all left office with corruption allegations hanging on their necks .

During the tenure of Larmorde as EFCC Chairperson, l and my organisation collaborated with him and we were able to uncover monumental fraud in government agencies .We did that without collecting any financial benefit. To reduce corruption in the country is a responsibility of every honest Nigerians. Olufemi Aduwo also serves as a Permanent Representative of CCDI to United Nations.