The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday assured of its determination to get to the root of major corruption cases in the country, including the celebrated Halliburton case.
EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu gave the assurance while receiving members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, which paid him a courtesy visit at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. “We are getting back the confidence we have been lacking,” Magu said.
Reassuring the committee of the commission’s resolve not to relent in its efforts, Magu, used the opportunity to intimate the committee of some of the reforms he has initiated.
“We are restructuring the operations aspect of the Commission and weeding out the bad eggs,” he said. “We are also carrying the anti-corruption crusade to the grassroots.”
He added that the efforts of the agency were yielding results but lamented that the commission was facing a major problem with regards to accommodation. He also stressed the need to have an Academy equipped to international standards.
In his speech, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, charged EFCC not to relent in carrying out its mandate of ridding the country of economic and financial crimes.
Sagay also stressed the pivotal role the anti-graft agency has to play in winning the war against corruption. “The common interest of Nigerians is at stake, because corruption affects everyone, and we have the same objective, therefore you can rely on us to give you support in all ramifications,” he said.
While commending the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, for rejuvenating the activities of the anti-graft agency, Sagay noted that there was still much more to be done.
“The energy you have brought in to the activities of the EFCC since your assumption of office has encouraged us, and we want you to continue to do more,” he said.
Re-echoing the views of Sagay, the committee’s secretary, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, stressed the importance of securing convictions in cases involving high profile individuals.
“We commend you for your efforts, but there is need to further enhance the good work you are doing by securing convictions in high profile cases,” he said.
Other members of the committee at the meeting include Prof. Sadiq Isa Radda, Prof. E. Alemika, Prof. Femi Odekunle, Ona Peters, Ola Olukayode, and Olusegun Odesina.