When-those-fighting-corruption-are-allegedly-corrupt-what-future-hope-is-left-for-nigeria
September 7, 2020 | News
WHEN THOSE FIGHTING CORRUPTION ARE ALLEGEDLY CORRUPT – WHAT FUTURE HOPE IS LEFT FOR NIGERIA?
Ibrahim Magu
Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
It is with great surprise I believe, that many of us received the recent reports that the Department of the State Service, DSS, Monday, has arrested the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, following allegations that he owns four properties and transfers funds abroad through a third party. While this is still an allegation, which I believe will teach others a huge lesson, but it leaves one with a hopeless stance as regard the future of this country when it comes to the fight against corruptions.
Corruption has always been the stumbling block to Nigeria’s development since independence, but despite measures being put in place to fight this menace, it is as if the situation is getting worse. It is rather shameful that a man recruited by the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption, is today allegedly deeply involved in corruption. If the allegations are true, then it means he has stolen most of the recovered loots too.
According to the reports, the DSS stated that the anti-graft agency Chairman, Magu, was said to have been accused of prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorized removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer. How this event and development will play out in the weeks and months to follow, is one that will be of great interest and public discuss within the polity. This is because for a long, time, the choice of Magu as the EFCC boss, who has been in acting capacity for years now, has been a controversial one, especially with the progress being recorded by the anti-graft agnecies under Magu. But when the one that has been policing others is now the one that is being policed, then it should be of great concern to all.
Let us recall that this is the same Ibrahim Magu, who some months ago, revealed that he had set a new record in asset recovery and conviction of corrupt elements in the country in the last three years of his outing, as he announced then that the EFCC under his watch recovered N794 billion, $261 million (about N77.8 billion), £1.1 million and 407 mansions from looters. He also said that the commission proactiveness has led to the conviction of no fewer than 703 corrupt persons and institutions within the period under review. Not too long also, the EFCC has said that its intervention had led to the saving of N4.5 billion monthly by the Federal Government. EFCC said the money was hitherto lost to ‘ghost workers’ on the Federal Government’s payroll. Now, with all of this record under his watch, one would never think that there will be any of such reports of alleged corrupt practices by the same EFCC Acting Chairman. Perhaps, in due time, Nigerians will know the truth we hope.
Zik Gbemre.
July 7, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Ibrahim Magu
Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
It is with great surprise I believe, that many of us received the recent reports that the Department of the State Service, DSS, Monday, has arrested the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, following allegations that he owns four properties and transfers funds abroad through a third party. While this is still an allegation, which I believe will teach others a huge lesson, but it leaves one with a hopeless stance as regard the future of this country when it comes to the fight against corruptions.
Corruption has always been the stumbling block to Nigeria’s development since independence, but despite measures being put in place to fight this menace, it is as if the situation is getting worse. It is rather shameful that a man recruited by the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption, is today allegedly deeply involved in corruption. If the allegations are true, then it means he has stolen most of the recovered loots too.
According to the reports, the DSS stated that the anti-graft agency Chairman, Magu, was said to have been accused of prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorized removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer. How this event and development will play out in the weeks and months to follow, is one that will be of great interest and public discuss within the polity. This is because for a long, time, the choice of Magu as the EFCC boss, who has been in acting capacity for years now, has been a controversial one, especially with the progress being recorded by the anti-graft agnecies under Magu. But when the one that has been policing others is now the one that is being policed, then it should be of great concern to all.
Let us recall that this is the same Ibrahim Magu, who some months ago, revealed that he had set a new record in asset recovery and conviction of corrupt elements in the country in the last three years of his outing, as he announced then that the EFCC under his watch recovered N794 billion, $261 million (about N77.8 billion), £1.1 million and 407 mansions from looters. He also said that the commission proactiveness has led to the conviction of no fewer than 703 corrupt persons and institutions within the period under review. Not too long also, the EFCC has said that its intervention had led to the saving of N4.5 billion monthly by the Federal Government. EFCC said the money was hitherto lost to ‘ghost workers’ on the Federal Government’s payroll. Now, with all of this record under his watch, one would never think that there will be any of such reports of alleged corrupt practices by the same EFCC Acting Chairman. Perhaps, in due time, Nigerians will know the truth we hope.
Zik Gbemre.
July 7, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes