The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has declared that the renewed anti-corruption fight will
ensure no escape route for any indicted Nigerian.
The anti-graft body disclosed that
adequate measures had been put in place to ensure that Nigerians who stole
public funds and take them abroad would be forced back home and prosecuted.
EFCC Zonal Head, South-South, Mr
Ishaq Salihu, made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting with pipeline
surveillance contractors, organised by the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in
Port Harcourt, the Rivers State.
According to him the President
Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had demonstrated strong political will to
fight corruption, even as he recommended stiffer penalties for whoever is
guilty of corrupt practices.
He said the Federal Government had
signed a pact with the government of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) to ensure
that Nigerians who stole the nation’s money to purchase any item in Dubai would
be sent back home and prosecuted.
“There is now a political will to
fight corruption. The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has shown this.
We went to Dubai and signed a treaty that all those who took the nation’s money
and bought items would be brought back home and prosecuted.
“Those involved in corruption should be
made to face stiffer punishment. Only very few in the country are getting what
should be used for the development of this country.
“Now, there is a deliberate shift and
anybody that does not believe that the narrative has changed is living in a
dreamland. We can stem the tide of corruption by giving timely information to
EFCC and other security agencies.
“When you see a person who has
no source of livelihood, you say the person has made it. But at the end, you
realise that the person has kidnapped somebody’s daughter”, Salihu said.
The EFCC boss said he was not happy
with the involvement of some Nigerians various scams, including arms deal
scandal, oil and and pension scams, adding that tEFCC and other were security
agents were trying their best to tackle corruption and other social vices.
In his welcome address, the
Commander, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Stephenson Olabanji,
said the meeting would afford stakeholders the opportunity to deliberate on how
best to solve the problem of oil theft and illegal bunkering.
“The Federal Government has been
battling several challenges among which was the militancy and agitation for
resource control, especially in the Niger Delta region.
“The region has no doubt being the
nerve-centre of the Nigerian economy because oil produced in the region has
been a major source of funding for the economy.
"Operation Pulo Shield therefore
launched with the mandate to curb the growing menace of oil theft, oil
bunkering and illegal refining of petroleum products.
“In achieving this mandate, the
Brigade has continued to conduct its operations against illegal oil bunkering,
oil theft and operation of illegal refineries, which has continued to affect
the Nigerian economy”, he said.
He also admonished participants
present at the meeting to be forthright in the deliberations and evolve a
concrete plan of action that would lead to the end of the activities of
criminal elements sabotaging the collective interest of the people
Source: Tribune
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