BY Fredrick Nwabufo
Ibrahim Lamorde, who was removed as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, says anyone who sees his exit as an act of God, would not blame anybody “but have peace of mind”.
Speaking after handing over to the new EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, in Abuja on Wednesday, Lamorde, charged staff of the agency to be patriotic and desist from mudslinging.
“As a human being, you have the right to disagree with someone, but if you disagree with your leader approach him yourself, instead of going out there to grumble,” he said.
According to him, those who engage in such actions are oblivious of the far-reaching impact of their actions, which goes beyond the commission and the individual.
Describing Magu as a “brother, colleague and friend”, Lamorde urged members of staff to give the new EFCC boss all the support that was needed to move the anti-graft agency forward.
“He needs all the support and encouragement he can get, and he should not be distracted with unnecessary write-ups,” he said.
Lamorde described his exit as “an act of God”, saying: “If you see it like that you won’t blame anybody, and you will have peace of mind. Let’s take whatever happens as an act of God.”
Also speaking, Magu charged all staff of the commission to brace up for fresh and greater challenges in the task of combating corruption.
Asserting his readiness to succeed in running the EFCC, the new anti-graft czar expressed absolute commitment to executing the war against corruption.
While paying tribute to the founding fathers of the agency, he said: “I want to state our resolve not to falter on the well-established tradition of patriotism, dedication, courage and fearlessness, and we will take this responsibility with utmost seriousness that it deserves.”
He promised to “ginger up the anti-corruption campaign”, noting that there was no better time to do so than now.
Corruption, according to Magu, cannot co-exist with any meaningful development, and must therefore be fought to a standstill.
“There is the need to make sure that whatever is gotten for common use did not end up in private pockets,” he said, emphasising that fighting corruption to a standstill would make the country attractive to foreign investors.
Magu also pledged to be a listening leader and one that will be responsive to staff welfare and development.
He said: “I am ready and willing to work with everybody without any primordial concerns.
“While we will intensify on our work out there, we will also keep an eye internally, and will not tolerate indiscipline or condone abuse of office or acts of corruption.”
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