The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said that he will resign if he’s asked to
compromise.
This is as he vowed to ensure that corruption in Nigeria is
gotten rid of, saying the “rule of law and fear of God shall be his guiding
principles.”
The EFCC boss said this on Friday, March 26, 2021, when he
featured in a Nigerian Television Authority interview programme One-on-One.
His words were disclosed in a statement titled ‘We’ll rid Nigeria of corruption – Bawa Vows,’ which was issued on the official Twitter handle of the EFCC.
“We need to change our attitudes in Nigeria,” Bawa was
quoted to have said.
“We are in the habit of worshipping people that have money
in the society, but never bother to ask questions about their source of income.
In winning the fight against corruption, we are engaging all stakeholders
including religious leaders, community leaders and others.
“We are going to embark on massive public enlightenment to
sensitise people on the need to shun corruption in all its forms.”
The EFCC boss continued, “I will continue to do what is
right.
“The Commission under my watch will continue to abide by the
rule of law. If anybody asks me to do anything contrary to my conscience or
against the rule of law, I will resign my appointment.”
He stated that fighting corruption was an onerous task that
should not be left in the hands of EFCC alone and urged Nigerians to stop
glorifying corruption and corrupt people in the society.
The EFCC boss vowed that the Commission under his watch would
not relent in its determined efforts to bringing all corrupt elements, high or
low in this country to justice.
“We have just created Directorate of Intelligence.
“We need to re-engage ourselves with all our stakeholders in
the fight against corruption because this is something we cannot do alone, all
hands must be on deck,” he said.
On the directive that all bankers should declare their
assets before June 1, 2021, the anti-graft boss said there is no going back on
the directive noting that, “laws permit the Commission to investigate assets of
public officers including bankers”.
“There is a law called Bank Employee Declaration of Assets,
Act 1986. We are not saying they should declare their assets to us. What we are
saying is that they should declare it to the statutory bodies. We are going to
be calling for it.
“As a Commission, we need to know what you have as a banker. Come June 1, 2021, we are going to be asking for it.” Bawa insisted.”
Responding to another question on the ongoing corruption
cases in various Courts across the country, he said the Commission is making
steady progress by securing the conviction of offenders and getting them to
restitute their victims of whatever they had illegally acquired.
“Our lawyers are doing well and the judiciary too is
marvellous”, he added.
On alleged media trial by the EFCC, Bawa said that “there is
nothing like media trial.
“It’s part of our responsibilities to let the public know
about our activities and what we are doing to sanitise the country. This is
enshrined in Section 6 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.”
He further stated that any case filed in court is a public
document that anybody can apply to the court to access.
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