TheCable

Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said corruption will no longer be celebrated in Nigeria in 12 months.

Magu said this on Thursday at the inauguration of the Ibadan zonal office of the anti-graft agency.

He said that those who are hellbent on truncating the efforts of the EFCC will ultimately fail.

“In spite of the efforts at fighting corruption, some people are still out there celebrating it,” he said.

“All these are put together to frustrate us. I want to assure you that they have failed. The fight has just started. We will fish them out, just give us 12 months and you won’t see them again.

Magu said that the non-confirmation of his appointment as the substantive chairman of EFCC by the national assembly had only encouraged him the more.

“It happened but I am not perturbed by the action. I work and do my job like there is no tomorrow,” he said.

“All we are doing is just to ensure that this country grows and the future of our younger ones is protected.”

Also speaking at the inauguration, Abubakar Malami, the attorney general and minister of justice, says the act establishing the EFCC will be reviewed in order to strengthen the commission.

He said that the review would ensure that the frequent removal of the commission’s chairman was checked.

“There would also be emphasis on strengthening public education and awareness. The agency will be repositioned to function at par with its international counterparts in developed countries,” he said.

The minister said that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to ridding the country of corruption, noting that government had intensified efforts at taking the anti-corruption campaign to the grassroots.

Malami said that the whistle blowing policy had demonstrated greater success and had shown that Nigerians were ready and willing to partner with government in the fight against corruption.