Defiant Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, says the war against corruption is a battle to finish, with or without Senate confirmation.
His comments come as Civil Society Organisations reacted angrily to his non-confirmation by the Senate after a televised screening that observers described as lacklustre performance.
Prominent player in the NGO community, Musa Rafsanjani, said in his reaction when the story first broke: On the EFCC chairman confirmation: We have along way to go in Nigeria in the fight against corruption it is really unfortunate that those who don’t believe in the fight against corruption, they have won the battle.”
He promised a comprehensive statement later.
Speaking with journalists as he angrily left the National Assembly into the waiting hands of CSOs who had come to receive, but left sorely disappointed Magu said”My priority is to fight corruption. My confirmation has not changed anything, I will work until the last day whether confirmation or no confirmation.
“The greatest violation against human right is crime against the society and humanity but everybody has a duty and responsibility to fight corruption and I also have a responsibility. I assure you that we will fight to finish.”
He said the DSS allegations, which formed the crux of his rejection, could not stand the test of time.
“These allegations can not be proven. You know, you can’t just raise mere allegations without giving the person opportunity to answer you. There is issue of fundamental human right, right of fair hearing is there. Up till this time DSS has not called me and I am even surprised that the same report is coming back and this time around it is signed by somebody which I doubt the genuineness of that report but I think we need to identify those who have the interest of this country at heart.
“What we are doing is to recover what has got lost before and protect the future of our children. So, if we don’t work today against corruption the future of our children is not guaranteed. We must all wake up, wherever you find yourself, fight corruption and any time you discover that I am corrupt, please expose me.”
Co-convener Citizen Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN), Comrade Ibrahim Garba Wala, whose team was part of the group that came to receive Magu insisted that Magu still had the confidence of his principal, President Muhamnadu Buhari.
“We are here in solidarity with the man we feel is a right man for the job and he should be confirmed, that is why we are here.”
