The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has advised the nation’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to be more discreet and confidential in its fight against corruption, saying the success recorded by the agency has helped restore confidence in the country.
The monarch has pledged his support to the agency in the fight against corruption, saying the greatest gift the EFCC could give the country was to recover stolen wealth.
The monarch spoke during a visit by the EFCC’s Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, to Oyo yesterday.
Magu was represented by the Ibadan Zonal Head, Mr Friday Ebelo, who led officials to seek the monarch’s support in the fight against corruption as part of plans to enlist people at the grass root in the anti-corruption war.
The Alaafin enjoined the team not to be discouraged in the face of harassment and intimidation, noting that the nation depended on the efficiency of the agency.
He said: “Nigeria is very rich but what is killing us is corruption. Just this morning (yesterday), I read in the papers that the EFCC has been able to gather from fraudulent people N500 billion. That attests to the efficacy of your work.
“Whether we like it or not, we must serve you. I must encourage you, we must support you… otherwise what will kill Nigeria is corruption. The fear of EFCC is driving some looters to several parts of the world, but you have been going after them and catching them. There is no hiding place for them.
Read also: How corruption fuels insecurity, by Magu
“The Eighth National Assembly tried to do everything possible not to get Magu appointed because they had a skeleton in their cupboards.
“I want to tell you that this nation depends upon you and you should not let the structure fall. Intimidation, harassment, you will face a lot of problems on your way, you have to travel far and wide and discover fraud and you get these people through your brilliant and aggressive style…
“We will try our best to cooperate with you and we will still let you know that you have our support and cooperation… What will make the system work either you are in government or EFCC is that there must be confidentiality and secret of information…” the Alafin said.
Ebelo told the monarch that the team’s visit was at the instance of the commission’s acting chairman, who was engaging the traditional institutions in the campaign against corruption.
“The EFCC Ibadan zonal office is visiting…to rally the traditional institutions’ support in the fight against corruption and other issues … We now have cybercrime and internet-related frauds that youths of late are getting themselves involved in’’, he said.
Leave a Reply