Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says he has no issue with anybody and he means no harm for anyone.
Magu, whose nomination as substantial Chairman of the EFCC has been twice rejected by the Senate, said this on Wednesday while addressing newsmen on the commission’s activities between January and August 2017.
He described his current ordeal as the toughest time he has undergone in the fight against corruption.
“What drives me is passion to do what is right by ensuring that we fight corruption to a standstill in this country,” he said.
“I have no issues with anybody. Those who think they have issues with me will soon discover I mean no harm.”
The Senate continues to insist President Muhammadu Buhari must drop Magu as EFCC Chairman, citing a report by the Department of State Security which alleged that Magu frolics with persons of questionable character.
But the Presidency will have none of it, as both Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President, have made public declarations that Magu will remain head of the commission while this administration lasts
Addressing journalists on Monday, Magu said that “between January and August 30, 2017, the EFCC recovered (a total of) N409,270,706,686.75, and $69,501,156.67”.
Also, the sums of “£231,118.69; €610,816.20; 443,400 Dirham and 70,500 Saudi Riyal” were recovered”.
Magu added that the commission had also recorded notable successes in the area of prosecution of cases in court “regardless of the challenges that we have faced and continue to face”.
“Many of you are aware of the achievements that we have recorded in the fight against corruption especially in the area of assets recovery,” he said.
“Two days ago, we got the court to forfeit to the Nigerian Government a sum of N7.6 billion which was hidden in a Nigerian bank by former petroleum resources minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
“Two weeks earlier, another court issued a temporary forfeiture order to seize properties worth $21,392,224 belonging to the same former minister. Those properties are awaiting final forfeiture.
“Over a month ago, the Commission recovered over N329 billion from a group of oil marketers for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. These are major recoveries from a sector of the economy.”
Magu also disclosed that there were many EFCC operatives currently undergoing prosecution for various cases of bribery and other corrupt practices as part of an ongoing “internal cleansing”.