A former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday said things are changing in the war against graft under the leadership of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
He said Magu’s job is the most difficult and challenging job in the country but should be supported.
He said contrary to insinuations, Magu was not selective in the way he is waging war against corruption.
He also said there was nothing wrong with the media trial of corrupt suspects in the country.
Oshiomhole , who spoke at the 1st National Anti-Corruption Stakeholder’s Summit at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja, also backed the Nigeria Customs Service on the enforcement of payment of duties on imported goods.
The theme of the workshop was ‘Building National Anti-Corruption Consensus in a Multi-Agency’.
He said: “From what I have seen sir, you have the most difficult and challenging job in this country today; more challenging than the job of a governor, the job of a President, the job of a Senate President or any other person because those ones are clearly defined and the values are there but this one is really problematic.
“In the past, we were made to believe that you could not probe the armed forces because of security reasons because they could overthrow so army accounts were never touched.
“But we are beginning to see changes. Today, even former service chiefs are being made to account for the money that was meant for insurgency was diverted and kept in pit latrines.”
Oshiomhole insisted that there was nothing wrong with media trial of suspects.
He said: “I can see both people in opposition and government being made to give account. Something is changing but I see people who say corruption should not be fought in this manner. They say there is too much newspaper trial.
“There is a purpose for the media such that as you are trying to hide, somebody’s business is to expose because if it is not exposed, it becomes a matter for boardroom conversation and rumours for the rest of society. I
“I am convinced sir that under your leadership, things are changing. We just need to see how to sustain that and as you can see, there is no particular segment that can be completely said to be insulated.”
Regarding the enforcement on payment of duties, Oshiomhole said as long as there is a law in place that duty should be paid, the Service must go ahead with the enforcement.
He added: “When I was governor, I went to the Villa to visit a former President and many governors were there. And I said look at us, we have all made laws about contrabands and somehow all of us governors and Presidents and Vice-Presidents and ministers sitting here are wearing contraband.
“And I said to the President, if we cannot enforce a law, don’t make it. If we must make the law, it must be enforced because somehow we have been able to turn our country into a duty-free country.”
In spite of the fact that N70million has been frozen in his account, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), described Magu as a “great man”.
He commended the EFCC for inviting him to the summit despite his disagreement with the anti-graft agency on the investigation of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.
The senior advocate, who had last week, challenged Magu’s legitimacy as the acting Chairman of the EFCC following his rejection by the Senate, said he had nothing against Magu as he had known the EFCC boss since 1997.
He said: “When I received the invitation to come for this summit, I was quite intrigued. I said to myself that Magu’s EFCC which had just seized my money from a court ordered unfrozen account is involving me. I said this man has a very large heart and I must attend it.
“Let me make this point clear, I don’t discuss individuals, I discuss institutions; that is why I believe that our institutions should be strengthened and not individuals. I have known Magu and Lamorde since 1997/1998/1999 during the failed bank tribunals and these are great men.
“These are great men with integrity. So, when we disagree, it is simply on how to move the nation forward. It has nothing to do with individuals or personalities. I still believe that he is a great man and a man of integrity.”
He, however, questioned the methods being employed by the commission regarding the fight against corruption.
Ozekhome joked that he would continue to defeat the EFCC in court because the problem the commission had was its shoddy method of investigation and not the judiciary.
He disagreed with Oshiomhole regarding the effectiveness of ‘media trials’.
Ozekhome said media trial was flawed as it had a way of presenting a person as already guilty even before being taken to court.
He also accused the commission of being selective in its fight against corruption and dared the EFCC to arrest just one of Buhari’s men to convince Nigerians that it was not being selective.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, said there was a need for the EFCC to respect the rule of law while carrying out investigations.
Utazi said it was wrong of the EFCC to detain suspects for long periods with the aim of gathering evidence, adding that media trial was prejudicial and must be stopped.
He added that there was a need for the commission to inform the legislative of its activities as regards recovery of funds and seizure of assets as this would promote transparency.”
(The Nation)
