This is no good news to corrupt politicians and those involved in economic and financial crimes as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, yesterday, December 8, revealed the plans of the anti-graft agency in ensuring that justice is appropriately dished out to everyone adding that some VIPs are reluctant to leave the commission’s cells because of its conducive nature. The chairman who was one of the panelist at the International Anti-corruption Day (IACD) 2015 roundtable discussion hosted by the United States Embassy made this remark when addressing issues that bothers on how information leaks from the EFCC to the press and whether or not these leaks are genuine as the commission have not released a statement to either affirm or deny them.
“We are really working. All eyes are on us. And let me tell you the conditions of our cells are good….you can come I can take you there….(audience burst into laughter). The conditions of our cells is one of the best in Africa. It is well ventilated there is enough water and ……So people are very reluctant to leave the place (smiles). It is very hygienic.
“You see we have a lot of work to do. The leakages are coming from most of these influential people like for instance Dokpesi and co. They are very strong in the media. Their connection is very so powerful. If you say you will react to whatever they say every day, you won’t have time to do your work. But we try to be as much as possible with…….. (inaudible)….information. When we disclose we have a press release. We adequately do the press release. We don’t leak any information.
“But you know when you are managing so much people you don’t have control over everybody. So we are doing everything possible to cleanse the internal corruption particularly the leakages. I am even looking at… erhhmmmmm….the use of this modern phone. Wetin dem dey call am? Smartphones (audience responds). Yes, smartphones, it is dangerous (audience laughs as Magu keeps straight face). They can just take pictures of documents and before you know it is sent out,” Mr Magu said.
The EFCC chairman also spoke on the priorities and the reach and limitations of the commission’s powers as it concerns the anti-corruption fight adding that priorities has changed as noticeable in the posture of the leadership.
“Not all acts of corruption that we have the mandate to prosecute. What we did in the year 2007, just before the election during President Obasanjo’s regime we pulled people. We pulled people from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), EFCC, Code of Conduct, State Security Service, and the Police. So we gathered this ones, and it was a taskforce. We stay in the same room so that we can partner and make progress. So we were working together just to make sure that we have the benefit of any inadequacies in the operations of the law.
“You are talking of priorities. Priorities has obviously changed. You can even see the body language of the leadership. The body language of the leadership shows really that corruption has to be fought. If every Nigeria is like them, I think there won’t be any need for the EFCC and the ICPC. So priority has completely changed. So we are working.
“You can see the change, the change is happening now. It was not like that. Before they don’t put VIPs in cells. Now we have a lot of them in cells. Everybody that goes there will be in cell whether you are a small man or you are a big man everybody is equal,”the chairman disclosed.
Speaking more on the treatment of suspects, the chairman said everyone is treated equally.
“We treat everybody fairly and firmly and we justify what we do. I think the priority has changed. The other thing is that we are guided by the fear of God in what we do. We will be guided by national interest and the rule of law in that order.
“I am not a politician…….so I don’t know how to interpret (discuss) more than that……. (Laughs),” he said jokingly.
On assets tracing and forfeiture from the proceeds of corruption, the chairman pointed out that ‘it is not easy for a policeman or if you are an investigator. An investigator anywhere is the same whether you are in United States, or whether in London. The policing aspect when it comes to real policing they are just exactly the same. So when you are involved in an investigation, when you recover assets you can’t touch it. You will be arrested, dismissed and prosecuted. I am telling you. Just when you leave here you may ask other people. But we are trying to adjust. We already have a Bill in the National Assembly on Asset tracing and forfeiture…….ahhhhhh…forfeiture Asset Monitoring Act”.
Also in the news is the story of young man, Onwuasonya Augustine who has been charged to court by the EFCC for allegedly swallowing $115,000 to avoid declaring it to officials of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Augustine was on Tuesday, December 8, arraigned before Justice C.J. Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos, for four counts the offence of money laundering along with five others.