BY LINUS CHIBUIKE
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, said the stark reality of widespread corruption in the country “becomes poignant when allegations of corruption touch on the leadership of an institution set up by law to coordinate and enforce all economic and financial crimes.”
The President said such a situation was an abomination that undermined the Government’s anti-corruption programme.
He spoke while receiving the report of the Justice Ayo Salami-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Investigation of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, according to a statement.
The statement, signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, was titled, “President Buhari: I want Nigeria to be counted among countries that do not tolerate but fight corruption.”
Adesina quoted Buhari as saying that in the fight against corruption, “no one is too big to tackle, as no individual is bigger than the country.”
The President said, “The sad reality confronting us as a people is that there is corruption almost everywhere; at many levels of government, and nearly every stratum of our society. Mindful of the threat that corruption poses to us as a nation, this administration has specifically focused on the fight against corruption.
“As a government, and in furtherance of our anti-corruption programme, we have since inception engaged in many reforms in removing corruption including but not limited to the enforcement of Treasury Single Account, strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number Policy and signing unto the Open Government Partnership. A lot of efforts have gone into building and development of our anti-corruption institutions.
“We have so far kept faith with our promise and shall remain committed until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status, and surmounts her security challenges.
“However, the stark reality of widespread corruption becomes poignant when allegations of corruption touch on the leadership of an institution set up by law to coordinate and enforce all economic and financial crimes. It is an abomination that strikes at the root and undermines the Government’s anti-corruption programme.
“It was in response to the serious allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that I set up a Panel headed by the Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami, retired President of the Court of Appeal, via an Instrument dated 3rd July 2020 pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004).
“We recognise that there are more grounds to cover in the war against corruption, and we are prepared to go out to possess those lands by cutting off any stream that nourishes the seed of corruption and supports its growth.
“Let it be known that in the fight against corruption, no one is too big to tackle, as no individual is bigger than the Nigerian State!”
He however noted that no country was corruption free, saying, “Some governments treat it with levity. Some fight it all the time. I want Nigeria to be counted among those countries that do not tolerate but fight corruption.”
In order to protect Nigeria’s political and economic systems, and the continuous existence of the Nigerian state from the threat of corruption, the President called on all stakeholders, and indeed every Nigerian to own the fight against corruption at their respective levels.
The President pledged that the fight against corruption was one that must be fought without fear or favour, while thanking members of the Commission for their dedication and commitment to the struggle.
Justice Salami, according to the statement, said Magu and 113 witnesses appeared and testified before the panel.
He added that 46 petitions and memoranda were presented by individuals and organisations with complaints against the suspended acting Chairman, EFCC, or both.
Justice Salami was also said to have disclosed that the commission also embarked on a nationwide physical verification of recovered forfeited assets, comprising real estates, automobiles, vessels, and non-cash assets.
He also commended the President for the initiative to dispose of all forfeited assets as a result “of the poor condition of the assets we saw during our physical verification nationwide.”
Salami was also said to have recommended that in appointing a new chairman, consideration should be given to candidates from other law enforcement or security agencies and a core staff of the EFCC as provided in the EFCC establishment Act of 2004, stressing that four EFCC chairmen, from inception, had been policemen.
“He expressed profound gratitude to the President for giving the Commission members a wonderful opportunity to serve the nation,” the statement said.
