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 The
federal government has again expressed
its commitment to the nation’s
anti-graft war, stressing that it will
spare no effort to prosecute the corrupt
and will not recognise any sacred cow in
the process.
The newly
appointed
Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr
Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN who gave the
assurance on Monday, April 12, 2010,
pledged his full support to the
Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC
and its leadership in their efforts to
rid the country of corruption and
economic crimes.
Adoke whose
visit to the EFCC was his first to any
government agency since he resumed work
as AGF last week stated that he was
delighted with the efforts of the
Commission to eradicate corruption from
Nigeria
.
His words,
“it is my delight to be here to identify
with EFCC and to pledge the commitment
of government towards the fight against
corruption and to assure the EFCC that
we would do everything possible to
support them to ensure that the fight
against corruption is a success story in
this country.
“I am happy
to identify with EFCC in the sense that
I have followed very progressively all
the efforts that they have been making.
I am particularly happy that they have
been able to get Nigeria delisted and I
am sure that in the next rating of
Transparency
International, Nigeria ’s rating
will be very positive.”
While noting
that corruption is a cancerous disease
that can destroy any country, the AGF
said “I want to assure you and I want to
state loud and clear that there will be
no sacred cows in the fight against
corruption. There will be no cover up.
We will give you all the maximum
support, we will strengthen you and
energize you and create a very enabling
environment for you to flourish.”
Adoke
condemned the recent attack on EFCC
operatives in the cause of duty by some
unidentified persons. “The government
is very sad and very concerned about
members of the Commission who have been
subjected to vicious attack and killed
in the discharge of their duties. I want
to assure you that government views
these victims as heroes in our fight
against corruption”, he said stressing
that government was doing everything
possible to ensure the safety of EFCC
operatives and their property.
The AGF also
disclosed that he was every ready to
lend a helping hand to the Commission.
“Anytime you have any requirement bring
it to my office and we will treat it
within 24 hours. The policy framework of
this government is zero tolerance for
corruption. If you have any case that
you have a problem with, get in touch
with us we will be there to support you.
We will issue fiat to any lawyer of your
choice that you want to prosecute for
you. I will only advise that you get the
best lawyers that can prosecute that
will not be compromised and that know
their onions.”
While
acknowledging that the fight against
corruption is a very tedious one; and
that corruption would certainly fight
back, the AGF urged Mrs Waziri not to be
discouraged or deterred by the number of
attacks against her and the Commission.
“ I encourage you not be deterred and
you must not be discouraged and you will
be on the positive side of history”, he
stated.
Earlier in
her welcome remarks, the chairman of
EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri said the visit
of the AGF was an indication of the
seriousness with which he views the war
against corruption. “You are only
manifesting the commitment that you
have, not only for the EFCC but the
fight against corruption in this
country. I watched the television when
the British
High Commissioner visited you,
the way you spoke so passionately about
this cankerworm called corruption, how
it destroys the country and how you are
committed to assisting the Commission in
the fight”.
She said that
there are many areas that the EFCC will
need the support and commitment of the
AGF . She disclosed that EFCC has
secured over 400 convictions and has
made substantial recoveries of above
$6.5 billion since inception.
The Commission,
she also said, facilitated the admission
of the Nigeria
Financial Intelligence Unit to
the EGMONT
Group and the launching of the
Anti Corruption Revolution Campaign (ANCOR)
to enlighten Nigerians on the evil of
corruption.
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