President Muhammadu Buhari says his desire is to make Nigeria a country that has no tolerance for corruption, but one where the menace is vigorously battled.
The President stated this in Abuja while receiving Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Investigation of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami.
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He called on the citizenry to own the fight against corruption at their respective levels to protect Nigeria’s political and economic systems, and the continuous existence of the Nigerian State from serious threat of corruption.
Emphasising that the fight against corruption must be fought without fear or favour, President Buhari thanked members of the Commission for their dedication and commitment to sanitising Nigeria of corruption.
According to him, the government has since inception engaged in many reforms against corruption, including enforcement of the Treasury Single Account, strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number Policy and the Open Government Partnership.
Muhammadu Buhari said government had kept faith with its promise and shall remain committed until the fight against the evil of corruption was won, a prosperous economic status attained, and her security challenges surmounted.
He admitted that there were more grounds to cover in the war against corruption, warning that the government was prepared to go out to cover those grounds head on.
The President was emphatic that in the fight against corruption, no one would be too big to tackle, just as no individual was bigger than the Nigerian State.
Speaking, justice Ayo Salami had said the suspended Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, and 113 witnesses appeared and testified before the Commission, adding that 46 petitions and memoranda were presented by individuals and organisations with complaints against the suspended Acting Chairman, EFCC or both.
He disclosed that the Commission also embarked on a nationwide physical verification of recovered forfeited assets, comprising real estates, automobiles, vessels and non-cash assets.
Noting that the four chairmen of EFCC since inception were from the police, the retired Justice of the Court of Appeal recommended that in appointing a new chairman, consideration should be given to candidates from other law enforcement or security agencies and core staff of the EFCC as provided in the EFCC establishment Act of 2004.
The setting up of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry was in response to allegations of corrupt practices against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and it Acting Chairman.
PR/BELLO WAKILI
