‘Magu’s continued stay at EFCC embarrassing to Nigeria’

The stay of Mr Ibrahim Magu as head of the the anti graft body, Economic and Financial ‎Crimes Commission (EFCC), in acting capacity is still drawing flaks from different quarters.

A civil rights movement under the aegis of Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI) on Sunday expressed concerns that the continued occupation of office by Magu was denting Nigeria’s image in the international community.

The organisation wondered why President Muhammadu Buhari would continue to keep him in office, despite the Senate refusal to confirm him.

The National Coordinator and spokesperson of CGGCI, Okpokwu Ogenyi, at a press briefing on Sunday in Abuja, therefore ,called on the president to, as a matter of urgency, send another nominee to the Senate for confirmation if the anti-corruption war is to be sustained.

While insisting that the coalition had nothing personal against Magu, he said there was no need keeping him because the country has more capable hands to fill the position of EFCC chairman.

Ogenyi challenged the President to inject fresh blood into the on going anti-graft war to save the country from total collapse and global embarrassment.

Read also: OPC warns Boko Haram escapees to stay away from S’West

He said, “There is need to inject fresh blood into the anti-graft war to save Nigeria ‎from total collapse. Since his rejection by the Senate, president Buhari has surprisingly maintained a disturbing silence. ”

“We are therefore calling on President Buhari to immediately send another nominee to the Senate ‎for confirmation as chairman of the EFCC as the continued retention of Magu in acting capacity is giving his anti-corruption drive a negative perception.

“We wish to remind Mr. President that the EFCC Establishment Act, under Section 2(1)(a)(2), states that an EFCC chairman shall be ‘a serving or returned member of any government security agency or law enforcement agency’. We then make bold to say that there are thousands of better qualified people in the Nigerian security or law enforcement agencies. Mr. President must find a man of integrity, serving or retired among the law enforcement agencies.”

Ogenyi stressed that the war against corruption must not be built around individuals but the EFCC as an institution, stressing that individuals come and go but the Commission should remain strong.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now