The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has blamed Nigeria’s underdevelopment as the giant of Africa on corruption.
Magu stated this in Abuja during the 20th Anniversary Public Lecture and Award Ceremony of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria.
The anti-graft boss, who was represented by the acting Head, Public Interface Unit of the agency, Tony Orilade vowed not to spare ‘sacred cows’ in the war against corruption.
“We are blessed with both human and mineral resources. But why have we been unable to explore and exploit our potential to the fullest? Your answer is as good as mine – corruption.
“Anywhere in the world, where strict adherence to ethics and values by the citizenry is lacking, there will always be an obvious deficit in morals, which is the antidote to corruption.
“As far as we are striving to fight corruption to a standstill in Nigeria, sadly, it is fighting back, really hard.
“We regret the attack on our investigator by suspected gunmen. We however solicit the cooperation of members of the press to push for reforms in the judiciary, and society at large, by exposing corrupt elements.
“Therefore, I am using this platform and opportunity to call on you all, members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, to support the fight against corruption,” he said.
Magu stressed further that the agency remained unrelenting “In ensuring that we rigorously pursue our mandate of ridding Nigeria of all forms of Economic and Financial Crimes.
