Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says the refusal of the
senate to confirm him is an indication that he is carrying out his duties
judiciously.
On two occasions, the senate
refused to confirm Magu as the substantive chairman of the commission, citing a
report of the Department of State Services (DSS) which indicted him.
Speaking on Question Time, a
programme on Channels Television, the anti-graft czar said he is not deterred
by the delay in his confirmation, adding that he is rather encouraged, and
would not compromise his duties.
“I don’t think it
(non-confirmation) has given the public a cause for concern. I think it is a
lot of encouragement. The fact that I am not confirmed shows I am working.
Really,” Magu said.
“In the anti-corruption
environment, if they rush to confirm you, it means you are not doing your work
properly.”
Asked why he is the first to have
his confirmation delayed for so long, Magu said, “No problem. Maybe the others
are happy. Because a number of the people we are investigating are also in the
national assembly.
“I am not completely distracted.
It is not an issue. Rather, it gives me courage. You wake up in the morning and
see some terrible publications about you. Despite all these, we are determined
to go ahead.
“I cannot be distracted with
those things. Nobody can purchase me, I cannot compromise what I am doing.”
Magu also said he was not in
support of the separation of the
Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from the EFCC.
He said the suspension of the
NFIU from Ergmont group is being politicised.
“The best financial intelligent
units in the world are the ones that are domiciled in law enforcement
agencies,” he said.
“Do you think if they put
financial intelligence that is totally independent, do you think the banks will
listen to it?
“They listen to it because of its
affinity to the EFCC.”
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