• Corruption, crime against humanity –Magu
• ‘Why we arrested Reuben Abati’
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi and Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu revealed, in Kaduna, yesterday, that they have the mandate to investigate every government official, including ministers, irrespective of political party affiliations.
Magu, who said the mandate was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s measures towards winning the war against corruption, disclosed that, “every government official is under investigation without them knowing it.”
He said this during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the National Union of Textiles and Garment Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), in Kaduna.
However, Magu dispelled insinuations in some quarters that EFCC operations was one-sided in the fight against corruption.
“We have course to investigate; in fact, we are investigating those in government without them knowing. Not only that, the president has given me the mandate to investigate every corrupt Nigerian leader irrespective of his political affiliation. I don’t think we have the monopoly of knowledge to tackle corruption. But, more than that, the fight against corruption is designed and structured to boost confidence in the economy as well as to attract investors both within and outside the country,” Magu added.
The EFCC boss also described corruption as a crime against humanity.
He said, before now, there was no hope for Nigeria, but President Buhari had shown “demonstrable political” will to deal with corruption.
“Corruption affects everybody, that is why everyone is a major stakeholder in the fight. That is why I have the passion, zeal and courage to lead the fight against corruption,” Magu said.
In his remarks, NUTGTWN General Secretary, Issa Aremu said the EFCC should be empowered to invite those living above means to explain their sources of wealth.
Aremu said if investigating agencies were not satisfied with explanations by suspects about their sources of wealth, such persons should be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has revealed why it arrested former presidential spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati on Monday.
The commission said, in a post on its official Facebook page, it invited Abati to its Abuja Headquarters to explain his role in an alleged mismanagement of the nation’s funds during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. An EFCC operative told Daily Sun the specific reason Abati was invited “has to do with the ONSA money.”
EFCC also arrested and detained former minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed over alleged N1.2 trillion fraud. Last week, former minister of state for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro was detained on allegations of money laundering.