The Acting Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has called on Imams and Muslim scholars in the country to lend their voices to the ongoing war against corruption.
He said Imams as well as scholars must always enjoin their followers to shun corruption and economic and financial crimes.
Speaking on Thursday, July 26, 2018 in Lagos during a one-day programme with the theme “Promoting Accountability , Transparency and Reducing Corrupt Practices in Our Society: An Islamic Approach” organised by AL-Habibiyyah Islamic Society of Nigeria, Magu urged Imams and Muslim scholars to see anti-corruption sensitisation programmes as crucial in their various engagements.
The EFCC Boss who spoke through the Second-In-Command, Lagos zonal office of the Commission, Umar Hadejia, said: “Indeed, this kind of intervention, especially from a faith-based organisation such as yours, could not have come at a more auspicious time than now, considering the effects of corruption on the Nigerian economy.
“Indeed, it is time we began to ask ourselves some pertinent questions: what does Islam say about corruption? What does the Quran say about the punishment that awaits any believing Muslim who engages in corrupt practices?
“The fight against corruption must not be left in the hands of the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies alone. There must be concerted efforts from members of the public, especially religious scholars and traditional rulers, to stamp it out from our national life. The extent to which corruption has permeated our public life is frightening.
“In fact, the current trend has placed a lot of burdens on you, the Islamic scholars and Imams, whom I believe Allah has made to be the instruments to convey His message to the Muslim faithful. For Nigeria to rise above this daunting challenge, I urge you to always admonish your members on the danger of corruption. When you repeatedly speak against corruption, using quotes and anecdotes from the holy book, in your various engagements, you are indirectly saying that corruption does not pay; it is not good in the sight of the almighty Allah and punishment awaits offenders.”
He also used the occasion to re-iterate the fact that the Enlightenment and Re-orientation Unit of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Commission had been engaging various stakeholders on the danger of corruption, while also encouraging them to take ownership of the anti-corruption fight.
“I also expect faith-based organisations to be seriously involved in this enlightenment campaign, considering the fact that every religion preaches against moral decadence, act of indiscipline and other vices, including corruption. For us Muslims, the almighty Allah, in Quran 2: 188 and Quran 4; 29, enjoins us to shun unbecoming behaviours, including corruption.”
Earlier in his remark, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Lagos State, Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, said most of the verses in the holy Quran relate to issues of justice.
Abdulateef, who declared the programme open, added that Imams and scholars had a lot of roles to play to stem the tide of corruption in the country.
He said: “You are the leaders appointed for mankind; people are interested in listening to you more than their leaders.
“Corruption cannot be reduced except with the active cooperation of Imaams and scholars.
“In fact, when a society is good, consider the leaders as well as the Imams in it.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Encouraging Accountability and Transparency Through Faith-based Intervention, EAT-FIn, Imam Ademola Fuad, urged Imams and scholars to see themselves as vicegerents of Allah on earth, who are supposed to always enjoin their followers to be just in all their dealings.
Other speakers at the event include Prof. Kamil K. Oloso, Vice President, South-West, Al- Habibiyyah, and Head of Department, HOD, Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, who spoke on “The Role of Islamic Religious Leaders In Fighting Corruption”; Dr. Saheed Timehin, Lecturer, Foreign Languages Department, Lagos State University, who spoke on “Corruption: Causes and Effects” and Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, Qasim Olalere Akinreti.