No one too big to tackle in corruption fight – Buhari

• As Salami panel on Magu submits report

President Muhammadu Buhari has said no one should be too big to tackle in the fight against corruption.

The President, who admitted that corruption existed in all levels of government including high places, said this was why he ordered the suspension of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu and set up a panel to probe graft allegations against him.

Buhari spoke in Abuja while receiving the report of the Justice Ayo Salami-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Investigation of Magu, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

The statement was titled “President Buhari: I want Nigeria to be counted among countries that do not tolerate but fight corruption.”

He said, “Let it be known that in the fight against corruption, no one is too big to tackle, as no individual is bigger than the Nigerian state!”

“Corruption is present in all countries. Some governments treat it with levity. Some fight it all the time. I want Nigeria to be counted among those countries that do not tolerate but fight corruption,” he added.

Even as he noted that corruption walked on all four (legs) in all levels of government and different segments of the society, he explained that the fight against graft would be seen as a mere charade if government failed to act when accusations of corruptions were leveled against agencies set up to help the crusade.

Buhari said, “The sad reality confronting us as a people is that there is corruption almost everywhere; at many levels of government, and nearly every stratum of our society. Mindful of the threat that corruption poses to us as a nation, this administration has specifically focused on the fight against corruption.

“As a government, and in furtherance of our anti-corruption programme, we have since inception engaged in many reforms in removing corruption including but not limited to the enforcement of Treasury Single Account, strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number Policy and signing unto the open government partnership. A lot of efforts have gone into building and development of our anti-corruption institutions.”

He also said, “We have so far kept faith with our promise and shall remain committed until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status, and surmounts her security challenges.

“However, the stark reality of widespread corruption becomes poignant when allegations of corruption touch on the leadership of an institution set up by law to coordinate and enforce all economic and financial crimes. It is an abomination that strikes at the root and undermines the Government’s anti-corruption programme.

“It was in response to the serious allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that I set up a Panel headed by the Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami, retired President of the Court of Appeal, via an Instrument dated 3rd July 2020 pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004).”

The President said, “We recognise that there are more grounds to cover in the war against corruption, and we are prepared to go out to possess those lands by cutting off any stream that nourishes the seed of corruption and supports its growth.”

Buhari said his desire was to make Nigeria a country with no tolerance for corruption.

He called on all stakeholders and every Nigerian to own the fight against corruption at their respective levels.

The President Buhari thanked members of the Commission for their dedication and commitment to the fight against corruption.

Responding, Justice Salami reportedly said Magu and 113 witnesses appeared and testified before the commission.

He added that 46 petitions and memoranda were presented by individuals and organisations with complaints against the suspended acting Chairman, EFCC, or both.

Salami said the commission also embarked on a nationwide physical verification of recovered forfeited assets, comprising real estates, automobiles, vessels, and non-cash assets.

He commended the President for the initiative, The statement reported the retired Justice of the Court of Appeal as recommending “that in appointing a new chairman, consideration should be given to candidates from other law enforcement or security agencies and a core staff of the EFCC as provided in the EFCC establishment Act of 2004.”