The Centre for International Integrity, Peace and Development in Nigeria (CIIPAD), has condemned the ongoing investigation of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, widely reported in the media.

The group said such an investigation not only ridicules Nigeria’s efforts towards fighting corruption but also smears the the image of the country before the international community.

In a statement jointly signed by CIIPAD’s director general, Dr Stephen Ime, director of Media and Publicity, Friday Bogogi and national secretary, Gloria Philip, the group said as a security agency, the EFCC is an enemy to the criminal.

“We have watched with dismay, the drama that has been going on with an ex-convict and his cohorts who do not wish this country well. We boldly state here that the happenings do not only smear the image of the EFCC but the country as a whole, proving to the world that we are corrupt as a nation,” CIIPAD said.

According to the group, this does not only affect the commission but the president of Nigeria, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the citizens in general.

It said that such criminal investigations against the EFCC boss poses lots of threat to Nigeria’s economy as investors who wish to do business with the country may be turned off by this singular act.

“We, in totality, condemn the criminal investigation of the EFCC chairman and the commission in the media. We see this as a mission for revenge on a man who had strived hard in his efforts to curb corruption in our country with evidence to show for it,” the group added.