Mr Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday said the
ongoing investigation of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki,
is not personal.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday said the
ongoing investigation of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki,
is not personal.
 |
| Acting EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu |
Magu stressed that contrary to allegations that Saraki was
being witch hunted, his investigation was no different from others as
the EFCC only “invite people who have committed crime, people who are
corrupt”.
being witch hunted, his investigation was no different from others as
the EFCC only “invite people who have committed crime, people who are
corrupt”.
He said this while receiving award for Outstanding Leadership in Public Service by Euro Knowledge Group.
The Euro Group Award is a highest recognition for individual achievement and is awarded annually.
The award acknowledges and celebrates exemplary leaders
that have made significant contribution and positive impact in their
specific industry.
that have made significant contribution and positive impact in their
specific industry.
“No, no, it’s not personal. I am not after anybody.
“Please, I don’t want you to personalise this. It is not different from other investigations we are doing,” he said.
When asked to comment on the statement by Saraki that he was being witch-hunted, Magu said “never.
“You invite people who have committed crime, people who are corrupt.
“If you are not corrupt, you are not here.
“We do our homework very well: sometimes we conduct
preliminary investigations for up to six months and such persons won’t
even know we are investigating them,” Magu said.
preliminary investigations for up to six months and such persons won’t
even know we are investigating them,” Magu said.
He described corruption as “a national disaster and mother of all evils.
“If you remove disaster (corruption), you have a peaceful country.”
He said banditry, Boko Haram nuisance and other crimes were “caused by corruption and sustained by corruption.
“It is been funded by stolen and laundered funds, that’s why it is being sustained.”
The acting chairman, however, said that if corruption was tackled, banditry and kidnappings would be sorted out.
He called on Nigerians and stakeholders to take ownership
of the fight against corruption, saying that it was not a job for one
individual alone.
of the fight against corruption, saying that it was not a job for one
individual alone.
Magu, expressed gratitude for the award saying it would spur him to do more in the fight against corruption.
Mrs Olayinka Fayomi, Chairman, Foreign Investment Network
(FIN), who presented the award on behalf of Euro Knowledge, said the
award was in recognition of those who had impacted the economy.
(FIN), who presented the award on behalf of Euro Knowledge, said the
award was in recognition of those who had impacted the economy.
“It is also in recognition of those who have impacted the
system from which ever sector they are operating from, and the EFCC is
one of them.
system from which ever sector they are operating from, and the EFCC is
one of them.
“Ever since the period Magu had been acting, there has been a tremendous improvement in the fight against corruption,” she said.
She said that with the award, Magu had become one of the African Change Agents.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Saraki had recently come under pressure from the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC had confirmed reports that it had opened a
fresh investigation into Saraki’s stewardship as President of the Senate
as well as a probe of his earnings as governor of Kwara from 2003 to
2011.
fresh investigation into Saraki’s stewardship as President of the Senate
as well as a probe of his earnings as governor of Kwara from 2003 to
2011.
Tony Orilade, acting spokesman, EFCC, said in a statement
that EFCC was obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in
the governance space and had supremely pursued this duty without
ill-will or malice against anyone.
that EFCC was obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in
the governance space and had supremely pursued this duty without
ill-will or malice against anyone.
“It is in the interest of the public and for Saraki’s
personal good that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times
to be so.
personal good that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times
to be so.
“Indeed, all the instances in which the EFCC have had cause
to sleuth into his financial activities either as a former governor or
President of the Senate were driven by overarching public interest and
due process of the law,’’ he said.
to sleuth into his financial activities either as a former governor or
President of the Senate were driven by overarching public interest and
due process of the law,’’ he said.
In his reaction, Saraki insisted that the action of the EFCC was a witch-hunt.
“Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the
EFCC has marked certain property belonging to President of the Senate,
Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, obviously under the claim that they are
subject of investigation.
EFCC has marked certain property belonging to President of the Senate,
Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, obviously under the claim that they are
subject of investigation.
“The action of the EFCC only reinforced our earlier
stated position that their current investigation is mischievous,
contrary to the tenets of the rule of law and only aimed at settling
scores.
stated position that their current investigation is mischievous,
contrary to the tenets of the rule of law and only aimed at settling
scores.
“The EFCC’s move to investigate him is a mere witch-hunt
exercise, aimed at settling scores, laced with malicious and partisan
motives,” Saraki’s Media Adviser, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, said in a
statement.
exercise, aimed at settling scores, laced with malicious and partisan
motives,” Saraki’s Media Adviser, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, said in a
statement.
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