President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received the final report of the Justice Ayo Salami-led probe panel on alleged infractions by the suspended Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report containing four boxes of exhibits were presented to the president at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
The Cable later reported that the panel recommended the sack of Magu, a commissioner of police, as the acting chairman of the Commission.
The panel, it reported, also asked the president to appoint the new EFCC chairman in an interim position for two years.
Buhari, the panel recommended, should also look outside the police force in appointing the next chairman.
President Muhammadu Buhari was also reported to have reiterated the commitment of his administration to fight corruption to a standstill.
He said “no one is too big to tackle, as no individual is bigger than the Nigerian State.”
According to Buhari, the desire of his administration is to make Nigeria a country that has no tolerance for corruption, but one where the menace is vigorously battled.
He said: ”The sad reality confronting us as a people is that there is corruption almost everywhere; at many levels of government, and nearly every stratum of our society.
“Mindful of the threat that corruption poses to us as a nation, this administration has specifically focused on the fight against corruption.
”Corruption is present in all countries. Some Governments treat it with levity. Some fight it all the time.
“I want Nigeria to be counted among those countries that do not tolerate but fight corruption.”
The President called on all stakeholders, and indeed every Nigerian to own the fight against corruption at their respective levels In order to protect Nigeria’s political and economic systems, and the continuous existence of the Nigerian State from the serious threat of corruption
While pledging that the fight against corruption is one that must be fought without fear or favour, Buhari thanked members of the Commission for their dedication and commitment to the fight against corruption.
The president noted that a lot of efforts had gone into building and development of anti-corruption institutions in the country.
”As a government, and in furtherance of our anti-corruption programme, we have since inception engaged in many reforms in removing corruption including but not limited to the enforcement of Treasury Single Account (TSA), strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number Policy and signing unto the Open Government Partnership,’’ he added.
According to him, the Federal Government has so far kept faith with its promise and shall remain committed until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status and surmounts her security challenges.
”However, the stark reality of widespread corruption becomes poignant when allegations of corruption touches on the leadership of an institution set up by law to coordinate and enforce all economic and financial crimes.
“It is an abomination that strikes at the root, and undermines the Government’s anti-corruption programme.
”It was in response to the serious allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that I set up a Panel headed by Justice Isa Ayo Salami, retired President of the Court of Appeal, via an Instrument dated 3rd July 2020 pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004).
”We recognize that there are more grounds to cover in the war against corruption, and we are prepared to go out to possess those lands by cutting off any stream that nourishes the seed of corruption and supports its growth.
”Let it be known that in the fight against corruption, no one is too big to tackle, as no individual is bigger than the Nigerian State!” he said.
In his remarks, Salami said that the suspended Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, and 113 witnesses appeared and testified before the Commission.
He also revealed that 46 petitions and memoranda were presented by individuals and organisations with complaints against the suspended Acting Chairman, EFCC or both.
Salami disclosed that the Commission also embarked on a nationwide physical verification of recovered forfeited assets, comprising real estates, automobiles, vessels and non-cash assets.
He commended the president for the initiative to dispose all forfeited assets ”because of the poor condition of the assets we saw during our physical verification nationwide.”
The Salami Panel, which was inaugurated by the president in July, was given 45 days to carry out its assignment but the timeframe was later extended after the panel requested for more time.
Magu was allegedly accused of corruption, mismanagement, lack of transparency in managing recovered assets by the commission as well as abuse of office by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. (NAN/The Cable)
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