By Giwa SHILE
The acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, on Tuesday, said the commission recorded 246 court convictions of corrupt persons in the last 11 months.
Magu disclosed this at a stakeholders’ interactive meeting with the commission at its Lagos office, and said that the commission was winning the war against corruption.
He said that the commission had also secured a number of temporary and permanent forfeiture of properties and various sums of money unlawfully acquired by persons of questionable character.
“The most recent of such final forfeiture, through the efforts of the commission to the Federal Government last month, was the N1.9 billion from Heritage Bank.
“No doubt, the introduction of special courts to try persons for corruption cases has been a blessing to anti-graft agencies. No more unnecessary delay in trial and dispensation of justice,” he said.
On the 2019 general elections, Magu said that the commission would rise against the issue of vote-buying and urged the electorate to vote in leaders based on their programmes, “not those who will pervert the system’’.
He, however, declared that the commission was apolitical and that it was concerned about those seeking to use the political space for money-laundering.
“We will enforce the provision of the anti-money laundering law to the letter, no matter whose ox is gored.
“Some vested interests are already attacking us for our stand on the side of the law. Let us remind them that the law is no respecter of person,’’ he said.
The anti-graft agency boss said that voter inducement portended grave danger to Nigeria’s fledgling democracy, adding that vote-buying was another manifestation of corruption that must be tackled.
On activities of fraudsters popularly known as “yahoo boys’’, shadow night clubs and shady car dealers, he said that more fight would be taken to their base and that consistent raid would be carried out on them.
On alleged investigation of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, Magu said it was based on petitions against him before he became chairman of ruling party.
Civil society groups and the media attended the meeting.
