Pioneer chairman of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, has said the refusal of
the Senate to confirm Ibrahim Magu as substantive chairman of the commission is
unconstitutional.
He said the resistance by the
Senate shows that the anti-corruption war is working despite plans to stop it.
Ribadu told The Sun, “The fight
between senate and Magu is another sign that the war is going on very well
because everybody wants to stop it. It is a very clear indication that Magu is
doing his work and I totally agree with what the government has done in terms
of allowing them to continue with the work.
” My own take about subjecting
the office of the EFCC leadership to clearance from the National Assembly or
the Senate in particular, I think it is unconstitutional. It is wrong because
it is possible through that, you will even completely kill this war against
corruption. And you will scatter it! And Nigerians do not want that.
” It is against the constitution
because the constitution of Nigeria says if you are doing this type of work, if
you are in the law enforcement sector or security, you should not be subjected
to the scrutiny or approval of the National Assembly. Like the Inspector
General of Police does not go through screening; the National Security Adviser
does not go through screening; the Director-General of the Department of State
Service (DSS) does not go through screening; the Comptroller-General of
Immigration does not go through screening; the Comptroller-General of Customs
does not go through screening; the Director-General of the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA) does not go through screening. All of them. So, why
do you single out the EFCC and the ICPC? And they are even doing more in terms
of serious work that requires independence more than any of them.
”Going by the spirit of the
constitution, the intention of those who wrote that constitution, we are
supposed to exclude offices like that from the control of the legislature. I
mean, it is a simple fact. Do you expect this National Assembly to clear a
person who is prosecuting many of them? So, do you want us to just get someone
who will not go and do any work? I mean, we are just being unfair to Nigeria if
that is the position we are taking and I feel Nigerians need to look at it and
reflect very well on this matter.
“The constitution of Nigeria, at
the time when it was promulgated, the intention was not to subject institutions
like this to screening. And the case of Magu is a clear indication that the war
against corruption is going on very well. I am 100 per cent in support of that.
“Whenever you see a leader or
head of the anti-corruption is very quiet and he is a friend to all and he is
liked, then the work is not going on.”
Ribadu further revealed ways the
government can curb corruption to its barest minimum.
“Ways to fight corruption to zero
is what is happening now; fight it to a standstill, get people jailed, take the
money they have stolen, go after the grand corruption, the big ones that are
benefiting.
“Continue to go that direction.
It is a tough one, it is a difficult one, but through that gradually, we will
get to a point where we will be able to say yes, we will overcome it,” he said.
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