The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu yesterday said the war against corruption is not personal but about the development and survival of Nigeria.
He also said despite the resistance to anti-graft war by a few elements, most Nigerians are with the agency.
He said he is determined to crush corruption and rid the nation of the indulgence.
Magu made the submissions in Abuja at a media workshop for journalists covering the EFCC
He said: “The anti-corruption war is a business for everybody, we are all stakeholders. It is about Nigeria, it is about the development and progress of this country. The war is not personal or any institution.
“From our achievements so far, you could see some impunity. It is our portion to put an end to this impunity. We have about 180million Nigerians, everybody has a part to play and our part is to check corruption in Nigeria.
“The evil of corruption affects everybody so it is our duty to put our house in order. It is not only for us (EFCC) as we cannot claim monopoly of knowledge of fighting corruption, everybody is a stakeholder, if we work together, we are going to record tremendous success.”
Magu said he was not averse to criticisms and urged critics not to pamper him.
He said: “You can’t expect everybody to key in because some people don’t believe corruption is wrong, you should not expect 100 percent acceptance but I’m sure a greater number of Nigerians are with us.
“I prefer to hear the wrong ones (criticism), I don’t expect to be pampered, when I’m wrong, tell me. It is easier for you to correct my wrong doings so I want to hear the wrongs so that we can correct them, there’s nothing like perfection.
He said his acting capacity role will not affect his performance.
Magu added: “No. The fact that I’m acting gives me more determination. When I’m there, I’ll crush it (corruption), I will fight it.
“That’s why sometimes I put EFCC on 24 hours basis so that we can do what we can within the available time. I think I have more determination to clear the ground as much as we can.”
A former Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Dr. Tony Iredia said: “As for me, EFCC is Nigeria’s most institutional factor in the fight against corruption and the commission has proven that.
“What the EFCC is set up to do is very tedious but it needs non-institutional actors to succeed. One of the actors which the anti-graft agency requires is the media.”
Iredia expressed concerns that the 1999 Constitution does not guarantee the freedom of the press.
He said: “There is nowhere in the constitution where there is freedom of the press but what we have is freedom of speech. Why do you give the media an assignment and you give everybody the freedom? Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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When Abacha died, his wife boasted that their generation can never know poverty again, did Federal government make any attempt to investigate that statement, why did the federal government and EFCC pick on Jonathan's wife alone, they should leave mama peace alone, because you have all looted in one way or the other
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