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| Ibrahim Magu |
The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, has urged Nigerian youths to hold their leaders accountable for misuse of the nation’s resources by joining in the fight against corruption.
Magu gave the charge at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, on Tuesday August 27, 2019, through Ms. Rashida Abdullahi, an officer of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Commission, who represented him at the event.
While presenting a paper entitled: “EFCC and the Role of Youths in Curbing Corruption”, the EFCC chair lamented how corrupt elites in the corridors of power denied Nigerians the greater good of governance by cornering the nation’s resources to themselves and their families adding that the youths should stop the endless blame game and hold their leaders accountable.
Magu reiterated the need for the development of idealistic and morally guided youths, who are stepping into positions of authority, explaining that gone are the days when young people were seen to be puritanical in reasoning but that such sound approach to life seems to have changed.
He expressed sadness over the increasing number of young persons in positions of authority who are not showing any sign that the youths are themselves immune from corruption, adding that the youths have found fantastic ways to manipulate the system. He therefore called on the youths to shun acts of corruption, especially ones relating to cyber crimes.
The Anti-corruption Czar announced that the Commission has from January 2019 till date, secured over 700 convictions on cases bordering on money laundering, advance fee fraud, bank fraud and other economic and financial crimes.
“Despite this milestone, the Commission realizes that enduring success in the fight against economic crimes, including corruption can only be achieved when all stakeholders embrace this important fight. One critical group of stakeholders are the youths”, he said.
He enjoined the corps members to join the anti-graft fight by enrolling as members of the EFCC-NYSC Integrity Club CDS group, as foot soldiers in the fight against corruption.
“It is no use lamenting that things are not right with our country. We are inviting you to lend a hand in helping us build a society where there is respect for law and order and where impunity is a thing of the past”, he added.
“If you see something that has failed a simple test of integrity going on, you should say something and EFCC will do something”.
While fielding questions from the corps members, the acting Chairman assured the NYSC members of protection and safety in reporting cases of financial and economic crime to the Commission and urged them to bring credible information on corrupt persons.
