The fight against corruption in Nigeria may get tougher, as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, says there is ‘no giving up.’
Mr Magu spoke on Monday in Lagos in a meeting with the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of Channels Television, Mr John Momoh.
He thanked the station for joining in the fight through its balanced news reportage and called for more support.
The anti-graft agency’s boss said the EFCC could not assume the monopoly of knowledge in ridding the country of corruption, but stressed the readiness of the agency to go tough on corrupt persons no matter how much attack it gets.
“There are too many talks about the issue of ‘corruption fighting back.’ Of course corruption will fight back but we are resolved and determined to win this fight.
“From over 170 million Nigerians, if I am opportune to drive this thing and in the process I happen to go, so be it.
“We are ready to fight this fight to finish.”
Citing some cases that the EFCC is handling, Mr Magu said there were “serious allegations for instance in the case of NIMASA.”
“There was two billion Naira initially when we took him to court but later we realised that he syphoned out of the public fund, about 34 billion Naira. There are reasons for doing what he did. If you come to the office we will show you everything. There is no problem.”
The anti-graft agency’s boss further stressed that the agency usually carries out a background investigation before inviting the individual to its office for questioning.
“We carry out our background investigation very thoroughly. We may have been on you and you will not know.” (Channels TV)