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Tag: Magu

  • Acting DSS DG Seiyefa, Magu, Kyari, IG meet Osinbajo

    Matthew Seiyefa, the most senior director at the DSS took over yesterday following Daura’s sack.

    He held a meeting with Acting President, arriving in an official SUV at 4pm.

    He clutched a file and was received at the entrance by the ADC to the Acting President.

    The Bayelsa-born acting DG came out of the Acting President’s office around 5p.m. he left the Villa in another car and was shielded from waiting reporters.

    Seiyefa, who has spent 34 years in service, was the Director, Institute of Security Studies in Abuja. He served in different capacities, including the State Director in Osun, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos States.

    Seiyefa is also a Member of the National Institute.

    Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu also arrived at the Villa. He walked briskly into Osinbajo’s office but was seen rushing out at about 4:40pm.

    Osinbajo also met with Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari.

    The meeting was held at the Acting President’s office when Kyari entered his office around 5.22p.m

  • Corruption is entrenched in Nigeria, says Magu

    ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu has described the level of corruption in the Nigeria as “most extensive and deeply entrenched culture” on the African continent.

    He based his assertion on the increasingly large number of corruption-related investigations, litigations, convictions and recoveries made by the anti-graft agencies since 2013.

    Magu noted that between January and July 2018 alone, the EFCC secured 142 convictions among whom were two former Plateau and Taraba states governors.

    He spoke in Abuja and through the commission’s zonal heads in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Gombe State and others, while addressing security agencies, paramilitary groups, non-governmental agencies, civil society groups, students, voluntary organisations, trade groups, community leaders among others, who joined the commission in a road walk against corruption.

    The exercise followed the adoption of July 11 as the African Anti-corruption Day.

    The Heads of States and Governments of the African Union (AU) had in 2011 declared July 11 every year as the “African Anti-Corruption Day”, following the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption on July 11, 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique.

    In furtherance of the drive by the African leaders, President Muhammadu Buhari was recently designated as Africa’s Anti-Corruption Champion.

     

    EFCC boss to Ibadan rally:  support corruption fight

    Also, the officials of the Ibadan Zonal office of the EFCC led hundreds of protesters in a peaceful solidarity march from the Iyaganku GRA zonal office to Cocoa House, Dugbe.

    The Ibadan participants, bearing placards with various inscriptions in the three major Nigerian languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba as well as English called on the people to support the fight against corruption by supporting the anti-graft agency’s efforts.

    Some inscriptions on the placards at the Ibadan rally read: “Beware of juju scam”, ” Fight against corruption”, “We will make Nigeria great again”, “Speak out, say no to corruption”, ” Red card against corruption”, “See something, say something, EFCC will do something” and “Support EFCC to fight corruption”, among others.

    Other agencies, which accompanied the EFCC in the solidarity road walk, include Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Orientation Agency, Directorate of State Service (DSS), Police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    Some of the paramilitary and non-uniformed agencies that also participated include: Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade, Civil Society Groups, Man O’ War, National Youth Council and WAI brigade. Members of Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) also joined the rally.

    Magu, who spoke through the Ibadan Zonal head of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, said: “This year’s event has a unique resonance coming against the backdrop of the AU declaration of 2018 as the African Year of Combating Corruption with the theme: ‘Winning the fight against corruption: A sustainable path to Africa’s transformation’.

    “The designation of President Buhari as the Africa’s Anti-Corruption Champion also adds a distinct Nigerian flavour to this year’s event with the EFCC driving the process.

    “For us in Nigeria, today is a special day for obvious reasons. This is because our country has one of the most extensive and deeply entrenched cultures of corruption on the African continent, if not in the whole world. This is manifested in the increasingly large number of corruption related investigations, litigations, convictions and recoveries made by the EFCC since 2003.

    “The depth and gravity of corruption can be seen in the fact that between January and July alone, the EFCC has secured 142 convictions, among which are that of Reverend Jolly Name and Chief Joshua Dariye – the former governors of Plateau and Taraba states.

    “This is an indication that we are determined to win the corruption war, no matter how long it will take.”

    Magu, who noted that the EFCC alone could not win the fight against corruption, solicited for the support and cooperation of Nigerians to make meaningful progress in restoring transparency, accountability and due process in public governance.

     

    ‘Commission recovered N20b from suspects in Lagos alone’

    Magu, who was represented by EFCC Zonal Head in Lagos, Akaninyene Ezima, at the state’s leg of the rally, said the commission recovered N20 billion from corruption suspects in the state alone this week.

    Magu said it also secured 42 convictions in the state between January and July.

    The Lagos walk was organised in collaboration with civil society organisations including Women Arise for Change Initiative and Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering (GIABA) among others.

    Magu said: “This year, the Lagos Zonal office has recorded 42 convictions so far, and we have recovered funds running into billions of naira.

    “As at this week, we’ve even made a recovery of about N20 billion. So, while I cannot give you an exact figure right now, I know we’ve recovered tens of billions of naira so far this year. We’ve also recovered sums in foreign currencies, vehicles, etc.

    “Some of the convictions we recorded were against ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ fraudsters, and they were not just convicted, their assets were also seized; vehicles, monies etc. So, we’ve really gone a long way and I’m sure, we’re going to double that.”

    Magu reiterated EFCC’s determination to win the war against corruption.

    He emphasised that the fight against corruption cannot be won by the EFCC alone, urging all Nigerians, especially judges and judicial officers to support and cooperate with EFCC in the struggle to free Nigeria from corruption.

    Women Arise president, Joe Okei-Odumakin, urged Nigerians to speak out against corruption and keep the faith that the country would get better.

    Head of GIABA, an anti-money laundering and terrorism agency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Timothy Melaye, hailed EFCC as a credible partner in the anti-graft war.

    He described the country’s low Transparency International ranking as perception, not reality and encouraged Nigerians not to be discouraged by it.

    Participants at the Lagos event, who were saw singing, dancing and displaying banners, walked through parts of Ikoyi, from the agency’s office on Awolowo Way, to Obalende, past Tafawa Balewa Square, back to Awolowo Way.

     

    Port Harcourt:  Africa loses $50 billion every year

    Magu, who was represented at the Port Harcourt event yesterday by the Head of Operation, Southern zone, Nnaghe Obono Itam, quoted former South African President Thabo Mbeki as saying that corruption has eaten deeply into the fabrics of Africa, resulting in the loss of about $50 billion every year.

    Residents of Port Harcourt, especially serving youth corps members, civil society groups and operatives of security agencies staged the walk on roads and streets in the city.

    The rally, which was led by Itam, kicked off from the EFCC office in Port Harcourt and moved through the Azikiwe road, the State House, Aggery Road, the Moscow road, William Jumbo Street at old GRA and back to the EFCC office.

    The participants dressed in white and red T-shirt marked with EFCC logo, that of African Union (AU) and a pair of jeans trouser displayed banners boldly inscribed with the anti-corruption messages, as they sang and danced to the tune of a set of live band that accompanied the group.

    Men of the FRSC, the Police and ambulance van provided cover to the participants.

     

  • Corruption is most entrenched culture in Nigeria – Magu

    The Acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday described corruption as “most extensive and deeply entrenched culture” in Nigeria.

    Magu said between January and July this year, the Commission had secured 142 convictions including that of two former governors – Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba).

    Magu spoke through the Zonal head of EFCC in Ibadan, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, while addressing security agencies, paramilitary groups, Non- governmental agencies, civil society groups, students, voluntary organisations, trade groups and community leaders who joined the EFCC in a road walk against corruption.

    The exercise followed the adoption of July 11 as the African Anti-corruption Day, with the officials of the Ibadan Zonal office of the EFCC leading hundreds of protesters on a peaceful solidarity march from Iyaganku GRA to Cocoa House in Dugbe.

    The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, urged the people to support the  present administration’s anti-graft campaign.

    The inscriptions on some of the placards read: “Beware of juju scam,” “ Fight against corruption, we will make Nigeria great again,” “Speak out, say no to corruption,” “ Red card for corruption,” “See something, say something, EFCC will do something” and “Support EFCC to fight corruption,” among others.

    Other agencies who joined the EFCC in the solidarity rally were – the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Directorate of State Services (DSS), police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    Magu said: “This year’s event has a unique resonance coming against the backdrop of the AU declaration of 2018 as the African Year of Combating Corruption with the theme ‘winning the fight against corruption: A sustainable path to Africa’s transformation.

    “The designation of President Muhammadu Buhari as the Africa’s Anti-Corruption Champion also adds a distinct Nigerian flavour to this year’s event with the EFCC driving the process.

    “For us in Nigeria, today is a special day for obvious reasons. This is because our country has one of the most extensive and deeply entrenched culture of corruption on the African continent, if not in the whole world. This is manifested in the increasingly large number of corruption related investigations, litigations, convictions and recoveries made by the EFCC since 2003.

    “The depth and gravity of corruption can be seen in the fact that between January and July alone, the EFCC has secured 142 convictions, amongst which are that of Reverend Jolly Name and Chief Joshua Dariye, the former governors of Plateau and Taraba States respectively.

    “This is an indication that we are determined to win the corruption war, no matter how long it will take. The Commission has also traced and recovered illicit funds, as well as properties worth billions of dollars. This level of corruption is shocking, destructive and totally unacceptable. Therefore, the commemoration of the African Anti-Corruption day is important, timely and necessary.”

     

     

     

  • Aboderin, a true corruption fighter, says Magu

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has described the late Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mr  Gbadebowale Aboderin, as a true corruption fighter.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by the commission’s spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said he was still in shock over Aboderin’s death.

    The deceased, according to Magu, set the tone of The Punch’s critical and supportive relationship with the work of the commission.

    He said that he felt a personal sense of loss as death had snatched from him and the EFCC a true corruption fighter.

    The EFCC boss noted that media owners and practitioners had been the bastion of the war against corruption.

    The late Aboderin, he said, did not only stand out in the group, but also ensured that everyone in The Punch management and staff upheld the values of professional integrity and actively supported the anti-corruption war.

     

  • MAGU CHAIRS C/WEALTH ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCIES IN AFRICA

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu, is the new chair of the Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa.

    The appointment was one of the highlights of the 8th Regional Conference of the group which ended in Abuja on Friday.

    The group, in a communiqué at the end of a five day conference, also resolved to strengthen cooperation and collaboration among member countries for the purpose of facilitating assets recovery and return.

    Chief spokesman for EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that the conference, among other things, expressed concern “about the heavy losses that Africa suffers as a result of illegal transfers of proceeds of corruption and crime out of Africa.

    “It stressed the need for synergy among member countries to combat illicit financial flows,” and called on “African countries to strengthen cooperation and partnership in the tracing, recovery and return of assets in accordance with Article 54 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and Article 16 of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.”

    It called for the enactment of strong whistle blowing legislation to protect whistle blowers. The conference appreciated “the invaluable support and warm hospitality” provided by the Federal Government, the EFCC, ICPC and the people of Nigeria, the honour of the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by Vice President  Yemi Osinbajo, at the opening of the Conference.

    Nineteen countries including Nigeria participated in the conference.

    The next Regional Conference will be hosted in 2019 by Uganda in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

  • EFCC has recovered over N500 billion, says Magu

    •Buhari: I was ousted as military ruler for fighting corruption

    For Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, it was time yesterday to give account of his stewardship.

    Speaking before an audience of dignitaries, including President Muhammadu Buhari and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland, Magu said the EFCC had recovered over N500billion from looters between November 2005 when he took office and now. Besides, 486 convictions have been secured.

    The President twice presented Magu’s name for confirmation. He was rejected by the Senate but the Presidency said he remained the best man for the job.

    Magu spoke in Abuja during the inauguration of the N24-billion new headquarters of the anti-graft agency.

    He said: “In 2018 alone, we have secured 89 convictions. Thus so far, we have secured 486 convictions from November 2015 till date.  We have recovered funds in different currencies and, so far, we have recovered more than N500 billion.

    “The recoveries meant for the Federal Government are duly remitted to its account while recoveries for individuals and private institutions are equally paid to them in accordance with the law.

    “We are also making strides as it relates to the prosecution of high-profile cases. For instance, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was convicted in a case prosecuted by the EFCC.

    “I, therefore, again, restate the commitment of the Commission to the fight against corruption.

    “We do not go after innocent citizens, we go after those who have stolen and arrogated same to themselves, like President Buhari has said.”

    Magu said the Federal Government had recovered and was still recovering trillions of naira stolen in the past few years by “people without conscience”.

    President Buhari said his administration never engaged in witch-hunt in its anti-corruption war.

    He urged Nigerians to change their ways of handling public trust and pleaded with the Judiciary to continue to collaborate with the Executive to bring corrupt people to book.

    He also told the audience that he was ousted from office as a military leader in a palace coup in August 1985 for fighting corruption.

    President Buhari, who ruled between January 1, 1984 and August 27,1985 as Head of State, was overthrown in a coup led by then Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and subsequently detained. Gen. Babangida replaced him and ruled the country till he stepped aside on August 27, 1993.

    He said although the corrupt would always fight back, he would not be intimidated, adding that the Federal Government was determined to make a success of it.

    “War of corruption is not an easy one to fight, because it affects so many different branches of our lives, so much that some people do not even consider breaking trust is anymore a crime. It has become the norm. That is why we must fight this attitude and encourage Nigerians to change their attitudes and perspectives,” Buhari said.

    He went on: “The goal of this Administration is to ensure the protection of public trust, and the anti-corruption war is at its centre. We never intended, and we are not engaged in witch-hunt, but we are determined within the laws to call people to account.

    “It is for this reason that we appeal to Nigerians to support regulatory agencies, like Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, because fighting corruption is everyone’s concern. I call on the Judiciary and the National Assembly to join hands in this national effort.

    “  I am glad to note that quite a number of nations are signifying interest to help us tighten their laws and enter into agreements with Nigeria to repatriate not only stolen funds but to make the culprits face due process of law.

    “We are committed to working with our foreign friends to stop the inflow of stolen funds from Nigeria into their countries and recovering what is there already.  These assets, when repatriated will be put to building our infrastructure.”

    “My first attempt to fight corruption, corruption fought back successfully. I was removed from office and detained for three years,” the president said.

    Buhari said with the anti-graft war by his administration, everyone now knows that corrupt officials will be held to account no matter how long it takes.

    He said: “This is another milestone in our determined and collective fight against corruption. Throughout my journey in national service and since 2015, I have made a very conscious decision to pursue a vigorous fight against corruption in public life.

    “Since 2015, we have made significant progress in the fight against corruption. Everyone now knows that corrupt officials will be held to account, no matter how long it takes.

    “We have recovered and are still recovering trillions of naira that were stolen in the past few years by people without conscience.

    “We are pursuing recoveries everywhere and are making sure that anyone who has been found culpable is made to answer for his or her crime under the law.”

    He said although the completion of the complex was significant, it is also a sign of Nigerians’ resolve to fight corruption.

    Baroness Scotland said Nigeria was on the right track in its fight against corruption.

    She said: “We hope that this building will not only take the angels but will send all the corrupt [persons] to where they rightly belong.”

    Dogara said: “I had said with the commitment of the President to fight corruption, anyone who had gone to the former Head Office of the EFCC as if you’re a foreigner visiting Nigeria for the very first time, the impression you’d leave with is that the fight is a joke because we didn’t have a building that represented the seriousness with which the fight against corruption was attached.

    “I am happy to say to Mr. President that by this singular effort, he has demonstrated that he has put his money where his mouth is. I am happy to say that it’s through the support of the National Assembly that funds were put together to complete this institution and I can assure you of our continued commitment to supporting the fight against corruption.

    “ So emphasis must now be moved to those wonderful men and women who are sacrificing so much in order to ensure the war is sustained and won.

    “We expect that the officers of the EFCC should be angels;  that is not a misplaced expectation, except for the reminder that angels live in heaven; they don’t live in hell.

    “When you have an angel banished to hell, he’s now a demon, and demons cannot lead this fight. The last thing I will say is that this is perhaps the most important venue from which we must begin to change the narrative about corruption in Nigeria.

    “ The Chairman made a statement about a reference that was made of Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country. Incidentally, that statement was made in a city that is the home of the inflow of a lot of illicit funds.

    ‘The person also stated that Nigeria leads the world in criminal enterprise, In fact, that in the university … you can study and major in credit card fraud. That’s the narrative out there, but that must change due to the fact that we have sitting before us here a President who has won global acclaim as being corrupt-free. I can tell you that he is not alone in Nigeria; there are millions of Nigerians that we come across day by day who are corrupt free.

  • Corruption: TI rating on Nigeria faulty, says Magu

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, yesterday faulted the corruption index on Nigeria by Transparency International (TI).

    He said politics was already creeping into the indices being used by the international body.

    He also said having special courts to tackle corruption will help to accelerate trial of looters.

    Magu, who made his feelings known at a briefing preparatory to the inauguration of the N24billion new office complex of EFCC, also said the EFCC will not punish the innocent.

    He said: “There is a lot of politics in these indices. I don’t believe it is right. You are in this country. Would you say the situation is the same as when we took over?

    “So, I don’t believe it but we are doing all we can to improve on our ratings next year. We should all work together on this. The job is not for us alone.”

    On Special courts to try corruption cases in Nigeria, Magu described it as “a good idea that would go a long way to reduce the long years it takes to prosecute one case in all the courts from the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court.

    “It would go a long way to speed up the tackling of corruption. The current system takes too long to conclude one case.”

    He assured Nigerians of fairness by EFCC and clarified that the innocent will not suffer.

    “We are doing a lot to make the agency serve Nigeria and Nigerians better. It is an institution that will stand the test of time.

    “We will ensure that only those who genuinely looted the treasury are investigated, prosecuted and jailed and innocent persons not arrested indiscriminately,” he said.

    Magu said contractors of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will now be henceforth monitored by EFCC.

    He said: “There was a time we met with the NDDC and civil societies. So, for instance if you have abandoned projects in Rivers State, we have civil organizations, we work together, we monitor and we go and inspect the abandon project, we bring them to book.

    “We have been working on that even though it has not been very effective but we are on it. We deal with the HoS and civil societies in that particular state because it occurs across states. So, we have been working on it. It is very annoying that the NDDC gives jobs, people collect monies and they do nothing.”

    The EFCC chairman said the new N24billion office complex will be inaugurated on Tuesday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Magu said the cost of the 10-storey complex was not too much as being alleged.

    He said:  “How can N24bn be too much for this building? That is not fair. We were able to even do it at that cost because we procured most of the equipment. If you bring any valuer here, they will value the property at no less than N100billion.

    “This shows prudence and transparency in the transaction. At that price! Go and see the transformers, the water filter and even the main building. How can it be too expensive?

    “Somebody can even claim to have collected N24bn for constructing our clinic alone. It happens. They will collect that money and this place would be the same.”

    When asked how he was able to finally complete the project after nearly 10 years, Magu attributed the feat to hard work and prudence.

    “As long as you give them (contractors) money, they will work. I told them I wanted honest work and I gave them all the money. I warned all of them against sharp practices. I can tell you that before you can get a property like this, people will ask you five times the current price.

    “If you like you can go round the whole of this country. You cannot get this kind of property with the equipment worth N24bn. No. You can go and bring valuers and ask them to value it.”

  • Saraki, Magu meet at EFCC’s N24b office complex in Abuja

    Senate President Bukola Saraki met face to face with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu in Abuja.

    It was at the N24billion newly completed office complex of the anti-graft agency which Saraki inspected for about 40 minutes.

    The handshake between the two men elicited thunderous applause from dignitaries, EFCC and construction giant Julius Berger Plc officlas on hand so much so that the Senate President allowed the plea of those who missed the photgraph, for another round of snapshots.

    There is no love lost between the two men. The Senate has twice refused to clear Magu to become the substantive chairman of the EFCC.

    This is in spite of the push by the Presidency whose insistence, has now made the Senate to abandon the clearance of many officials whose nominations are pending.

    The Senate President is also facing trial over alleged false assets declaration.

    But yesterday, Saraki said the war against corruption is not personal, adding that it should be everybody’s business.

    He said: “If we are going to build a better society in our country, one of the main things we must tackle is the issue of corruption and how we can do that is by strengthening these institutions.

    “My presence here is to say that whatever we do in our job, the most important thing is that we all represent institutions and we must work and see that it is in the interest of the country.

    “So my presence here is, after a building like this where the National Assembly has played a great role, it must be my responsibility to see how the money was spent and I can see that that has been done properly and we should continue to work together to see that goes well for the entire country.

    “I think we have all said it. It is something we must fight. There is no way you can build a society without fighting corruption.

    “I have always said that my own strong will is that as we fight it, we must fight it in ensuring that we strengthen the institutions and what you see here is part of the process of strengthening those institutions so that whoever comes here will know that this is what we must fight if we want to build institutions.

    “I think it (project) has gone through about three executive chairmen and one did not come in to say this is not my project and I must not continue. Each one has taken it as his own project.  I think that is good and that is the whole point that is important and this is something we will be proud of for many years.

    “In many years to come, I hope that we don’t have corruption in an environment like this but for now, I think there are many good aspects of this. Having a Nigerian that designed this, the details are very impressive-  the clinic  and all the facilities- and the fact that it has gone through three different administration and the fact that the National Assembly has played its role and brought it to completion, I think that it is a lot of plus.”

     

     

     

     

  • N24b office complex: Magu shocked me, says ex-EFCC chair Waziri

    A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, has expressed joy at the completion of the N24billion office of the commission in Abuja.

    Waziri who initiated the project during her tenure said yesterday that she was pleasantly shocked by the ability of the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Ibrahim Magu to bring the plan to fruition.

    Magu, according to her, has shown example of why continuity is necessary in governance in Nigeria.

    Speaking during a visit to the 10-storey complex, Mrs. Waziri said:  “My first reaction was that of shock and excitement.

    “Shock, because when we went to lay the foundation stone, it was total bush that was there. There was no single building in that area and we had a lot of canopies. This edifice standing is so beautiful.

    “I have not been to Trump Tower but it looks like Trump Tower to me.

    “Somebody asked me: Is that EFCC headquarters? He said he thought it was an oil company and I said no, it is EFCC headquarters.

    “So I was so happy and I felt so proud that I thought about the project. And also I didn’t just think about it but I took positive steps to initiate it.”

    Waziri said if successive administrations in the country could embrace continuity like President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has done, Nigeria would be better off.

    She added: “I had the vision and I will say Magu actualized it and that is how it should be in a country like Nigeria. There should be continuity in government. It should not be that when someone starts something, you come in and because you didn’t start it, you trample on it and say it is not good enough.

    “It is happening every day in our life and in this country especially at state levels. A governor comes up with a project, another will dismantle it.”

    The EFCC on Thursday had a test-run management meeting at the complex ahead of its inauguration by President Buhari.

    Waziri initiated the project as a result of congestion at the present headquarters of the agency in Wuse II, Abuja.

    Following a memo presented by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Yayale Ahmed, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on November 24, 2010 approved N18b for the construction of the new 10-Storey building to house the Headquarters of the EFCC.

    It was gathered that a poor timeline for the release of funds delayed the completion of the project leading to a variation of the contract sum by the construction giant, Julius Berger Plc.

    Speaking with our correspondent, EFCC Acting Chairman, Magu said he was “excited that the new headquarters is ready for use.”

    He added: “The Federal Government has spent over N24billion to build. But I will later crosscheck to give you the exact figure.

    “I thank Mr. President for according this project a priority. It is part of his commitment to the anti-graft war. This is a legacy project which many generations will be proud of.

    “No leader in Africa has provided a conducive environment for an anti-corruption agency like President Buhari has done.

    “We have also received support from ministers and all MDAs on release of funds and putting necessary infrastructure in place. “This commission is grateful to the National Assembly for their interest in the project. Many of these leaders including Speaker Yakubu Dogara,  the Deputy Senate President, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, the chairmen and members of all the committees on anti-corruption had always visited the site to monitor the progress of work. It shows that if we are determined, we can all be on the same page in this war against corruption. It is not a personal thing at all.”

  • Magu to lawyers, judiciary: stop frustrating cases

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu has criticised some lawyers “who specialise in frustrating cases”.

    He said the judiciary also contributes to delays through frequent transfer of judges who are forced to abandon cases.

    Magu accused lawyers of filing frivolous applications to stall cases and intimidating judges with “groundless petitions”.

    To the EFCC chair, such factors have made the prosecution of suspects “extremely challenging”.

    Magu spoke at the Fifth Criminal Justice Reform Conference in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    It was organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Criminal Justice Reform Committee chaired by Chief Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN).

    Magu, represented by EFCC’s Head of Legal, Gbolahan Latona, said: “It is extremely challenging in Nigeria today to prosecute defendants, particularly in corruption, economic and financial crimes.

    “Some defence counsel pride themselves in their ability to stall prosecution of cases by endless and sometimes frivolous interlocutory applications and appeals; blackmailing and intimidating judges who do not yield to their gimmicks with groundless petitions; and encouraging their defendant clients to malinger etc.

    “To those lawyers, what makes a good lawyer is his ability to use every means available to prevent or frustrate the trial, weary the anti-corruption agencies and their witnesses so that the case would not be determined on its merits but rather on technicality.”

    According to Magu, other challenges faced by EFCC in prosecuting corruption, economic and financial crimes include high cost of investigation and prosecution, constitutional constraints, jurisdictional, procedural and evidential issues; international co-operation issues, socio-cultural challenges and delay in the judicial process.

    “Undue delay in the judicial process has been identified as one of the most daunting challenges in the prosecution of corruption, economic and financial crimes in particular and others in general. It has become an albatross of the entire criminal justice system of Nigeria.

    “However, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act now has provisions that attempts to curb some of these excesses,” he said.

    In Magu’s view, delays are aggravated by the congestion of cases, slow pace of proceedings occasioned by insufficient number of judges, the manual recording system and frequent transfer of Federal High Court judges.

    He said: “A transfer of a Federal High Court judge poses a great challenge in the prosecution of corruption related crimes. Although fiats can be granted to judges for the conclusion of part-heard cases, it may be burdensome for the concerned judges, given the heavy caseloads in their new divisions.

    “Some of them who showed strong determination to conclude such cases sometimes become wearied or discouraged by the negative attitude of counsel, particularly the defence.

    “Several cases have been started de novo or afresh because of the transfer, retirement or elevation of the presiding judges. This entails bringing the witnesses to court afresh for their testimonies with the attendant challenges in terms of their availability, willingness; and incidental financial costs.

    “This above scenario necessitated major players in the criminal justice sector to question the effectiveness of extant provisions such as Section 19 (3) of the EFCC Act aimed at expediting criminal trials.”

    “Calls were therefore made for a paradigm shift which included the enactment of new procedural rules and creation of special courts to try corruption related offences,” the EFCC chair said.

    Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) regretted that Nigeria still labours under ineffective administration of justice, with recent events putting undue stress on the system.

    “In the Northeaast, the justice system is for the most part near collapse; in many other parts, there is a steep decline to near anarchy. In Zamfara State, for instance, the killings and absence of law and order has become worrisome.

    “In many states across the North Central, Benue, Taraba, Plateau Kogi, the strife and killings have put huge stress on the justice sector.

    “In other states in many parts of the country, including Southeast and the Delta region, kidnappings, robberies and various forms of criminality are becoming more and more common occurrence.

    “All these underscore the continuing urgency for reforms for a more effective administration of criminal justice. We should be prepared for even more radical reforms to address these challenges,” Mahmoud said.