[Mhiz Rebecca]

Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, says politicians
defecting from one party to another would not be
shielded from prosecution by the anti-graft agency.
Speaking during a parley with editors in Lagos on
Wednesday, Magu said there is no hiding place for such
politicians in the fight against corruption by EFCC.
“The fact that a politician jumps from one party to
another will not stop EFCC investigation; we don’t stop
investigation until it is concluded.
“It is only the courts that have the powers to decide on
whether to exonerate or convict any indicted politician,”
said the EFCC chairman.
Responding to alleged interference by the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC), Magu said that he had
never received any instruction to stop any investigation.
“I am not the type you’ll ask to stop any investigation”,
Magu said.
The EFCC chairman said it had become fashionable for
anyone being investigated for corruption by the
Commission to scream political persecution.
“With the general elections fast approaching, the
resistance has assumed even frightening dimension with
political motives imputed to most of our activities,” he
said.
According to Magu, the media owes Nigeria a duty not to
allow the corrupt to deploy their ill-gotten riches to
corner the machinery of government.
The EFCC chief, therefore, urged the media not to lend
their platforms to helping the cause of the corrupt that
were shedding crocodile tears.
“We must all do what is right for our country, which is
ensuring that those who steal our common patrimony
are brought to justice,” Magu said.
According to him, the EFCC has so far revealed only
about 10 per cent of the monumental corruption
perpetrated in the past and urged all security agencies
to prioritize anti-graft fight.
“You have not seen anything yet, we have not even
touched 10 per cent of corruption perpetrated in the
past,” he said.
The EFCC boss said banks needed to strengthen internal
control and urged the Central Bank to re-appraise
regulatory and ethical conduct of banks in order to win
the fight against corruption.
According to him, EFCC has signed memorandums of
understanding with the United Arab Emirates and
Mauritius in its efforts to recover looted assets.
He expressed concern at the state of seized assets
which were rotting away at various locations across the
country.
On assets recovery, Magu said EFCC had recovered a
total of N106.5 billion, $1.63 million, 629,000 British
Pounds and 25,575 Euros this year.
He expressed the hope that EFCC would surpass the
record of 189 convictions achieved in 2017, going by
over 158 convictions secured between January and
August this year.