Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Mustafa Magu
spoke yesterday on the fight against corruption, saying it will be unsparing.
Besides,
the EFCC boss agreed that the rate of convictions in corruption cases may be
low, but he is sure that more looters will go to jail this year.
The
anti-graft czar, fondly called The General, said every stakeholder seems to be
more serious about fighting corruption. “From all indications, the judges are
more serious, everybody is cooperating and this year, we will see more
politically-exposed persons convicted. We will flush out corrupt people.”
He
assured all that the process will be transparent. He also promised to discharge his
responsibility “with the fear of God, in the national interest, and strictly
observing the rule of law.”
Magu,
who spoke during a visit to The Nation’s
headquarters in Lagos, said he had been trying to mobilise Nigerians as
stakeholders in the fight against corruption.
The
EFCC boss praised the management and editorial team of The Nation, saying the
paper has come to stay among the builders and molders’ of the nation. “Within a space of nine years, your brand has
joined the league of shapers of our society by your incisive and, sometimes,
explosive reporting. I must say that as an agency which believes in vigorous
expression of its mandate, the EFCC is at home with your style of reporting and
the candour of your esteemed columnists,” he said.
Magu
said he was mobilising support, opinions, ideas and strategies that are
necessary to strengthen the anti-graft battle.
“We
need more support; it is about Nigeria, not an individual, the fight is for
everybody, from the media we have to go to the grassroots, we will take it to
children in the schools; we have to tell the children that corruption is bad,
tell them why there is no chair in the classroom.
“We
will sensitise everybody to the evil of corruption. We need to let people know
that corruption is bad because some people don’t seem to know,” Magu said.
In
his view, corruption is an attack on Nigeria and a “deliberate and calculated
wickedness” against the nation’s existence. He decried the impunity with which
public servants helped themselves to the commonwealth of Nigerians.
“The
impunity is too much. Sometimes I shed tears in the morning before I go to the
office. It is just unbelievable; the rot is terrible. What I am saying is that
people who know they have stolen our commonwealth should bring it back,” the
EFCC chief said, adding:
“People
arrogate things to themselves. They have taken our money and are bold enough to
say they are not going to return it. The money belongs to the people; they
should return the money quietly; let there be voluntary compliance. Let them
voluntarily come out to say ‘this is what I have stolen’ and the government
will take it. I think that is the best thing to do.”
Magu
commented on the handcuffing of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson
Olisa Metuh when he appeared in court, saying, there is nothing wrong in handcuffing
an accused. “It is not coming from us(Nigerian Prisons Service —NPS— brought
Metuh to court), but there is nothing wrong with that actually. They have a
right to use their discretion; you are not there, there must be reason. There
are instances when you handcuff a suspect, but let them explain themselves.”
He
said the Commission was receiving renewed interest and cooperation from foreign
agencies and there will be no hiding place for treasury looters.
He
said the EFCC was building a strong institution with enhanced capacity for the
staff but will require more funding. “The people need their capacity to be
enhanced; they need funding. We are still renting offices all over the country.
There is one massive building of the EFCC that has not advanced because of
funding. If we go into that place, we are going to have security of documents,
evidences and witnesses. The staff will be better protected. This is the kind
of intervention that we are asking the Nigerian people.”
Magu
said there will be need for new laws tailored for fighting corruption. “It is
important for the lawmakers to be put on the hot seat. If you make one law for
the person who steals a goat to go to jail for 11 years and somebody who with
pen and paper commits money laundering of over N5 billion for minor years, it
is not proper.”
To
him, what is seen as the low rate of conviction in corruption-related cases is
not the EFCC’s problem.
Magu
said: “It is not the job of the EFCC to convict people. The EFCC hands of after
taking them to court with evidence and witnesses. But, they know how to drag
this thing. After six, seven or 10 years’ witnesses die, you can no longer call
for evidence and Nigerians are saying EFCC has not convicted this or that. So,
we need to refocus and make new laws that will channel our activities
properly.”
Source: The Nation
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