Memo to Mustapha Magu

It is too late now to remove Assistant Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, from the seat of the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Clearly, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have retained confidence in Magu’s ability to do the job and ever since his appointment in November 2015 as Acting Chairman of the Commission, there has been no dull moment.

Hitherto, Magu had investigated top politicians including Bukola Saraki, the former governor of Kwara state, for his role in the collapse of the Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN) and James Ibori, the former governor of Delta state. Magu is Saraki’s nemesis, so predictably, the Senate President blocked his confirmation. Twice, President Buhari sent Magu’s name for confirmation as chairman of EFCC and twice he was rejected as Saraki unleashed Senators Dino Melaye and Hamma Misau on him. It was a trap Magu that Magu didn’t reckon with. The Senate didn’t stop there; those who had something to fear from the fight against corruption showed their hands by giving President Buhari two weeks ultimatum to fire Magu from the EFCC job!

Magu has re-established the dread with which EFCC was regarded when it began operation; Magu didn’t start where Ibrahim Lamorde ended, he continued from where Nuhu Ribadu stopped. The passion with which Magu fights corruption will terrify any crook and EFCC’s recent exploits have clearly caused panic among looters.

The EFCC has been discovering humongous amount of stolen money. EFCC’s spectacular detection in February of $9.8 million and £74,000 hidden in fireproof safes in a bungalow at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, testifies to its efficiency. In the same month, the EFCC also discovered a $37.5 million 15-storey highrise building made up of 18 luxury flats and six penthouses sitting at Banana Island, Lagos, allegedly acquired from YF Construction Development and Real Estate by Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum. Last year, the Commission had equally seized an $18 million mansion in Asokoro, Abuja, also alleged to belong to Mrs AlisonMadueke.

However, the mother of all discoveries of stolen public money was made last month inside the Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos. Acting on a whistle blower’s tip off, the EFCC discovered $43.4 million; £27,800 and N23.2 million in Flat 7B. The money was concurrently claimed by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Rivers state government. Whereas the NIA said the money was part of the $289 million approved for counter-intelligence by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the Rivers state governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike claimed that the money was part of the proceeds of the sale of turbines to Sahara Energy by the former governor Rotimi Amaechi. Despite Justice Muslim Hassan’s directive that whoever owned the money had up till 5th May, 2017 to prove it, Governor Wike didn’t appear.

Many legal minds are of the opinion that President Buhari needs not to send Magu’s name to anybody for confirmation hearing again. The anti-graft chief has done a wonderful job and we want him to continue because he happens to be the President’s choice. So, what can Magu do to strengthen the war against corruption?

The EFCC should intensify public enlightenment campaign to persuade Nigerians to abandon the culture of corruption. There are countless Nigerians out there who shun corrupt acts and EFCC needs to encourage them through massive sensitisation. Every time a corrupt person is apprehended and punished, it will serve as deterrence to others.

Furthermore, as Professor Wole Soyinka strongly advised, EFCC should consider prosecuting all those jesters, thugs and political wrecks who distract the Commission by making wild and false claims regarding seized money or property. Recall that upon the discovery of the Osborne Towers money, Governor Nyesom Wike, without the slightest shred of proof, wickedly claimed that it was Rivers state government money hidden by the former governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and he was quickly copycatted by Femi Fani-Kayode, our jobless, unhappy clown. We all read Fani-Kayode’s tweet alleging that the money and the flat in which it was found belonged to Amaechi. What a silly tweet from a silly mind!

There is no doubt; Magu has to do something about the misguided elements and tale bearers who deliberately bandy poisonous information in order to malign others or ridicule the anti-corruption fight.

Additionally, something should urgently be done to amend the law in order to ban convicted looters from holding public office, whether on appointive or elective basis. It is absolutely injurious to the wellbeing of our society to recycle looters. Looters should have no second chance to resume haemorrhaging our national resources to satisfy their own greed.

The EFCC should ensure effective prosecution of offenders. Effective training, especially for investigators and prosecutors will put the Commission in good stead to apprehend, investigate, prosecute and jail our unrepentant looters. Where you have sloppy and illtrained staff, chances are that corrupt elements will slip off the hands of the authorities.

EFCC will also do well to improve the overall welfare of the staff. Only a wellmotivated workforce can withstand the evil temptations of the corrupt. If the members of staff of the Commission are not looked after very well, there is the likelihood that they will sell out to criminals.

Magu’s EFCC should also consider the appointment of whistle blowers as anti-corruption ambassadors. Whistle blowers should automatically be appointed ambassadors, except where they are proven to be dishonest. I don’t know why Magu didn’t consider decorating Professor Wole Soyinka as anti-corruption ambassador when the two met recently at the Vision of the Child Art Exhibition in Lagos. EFCC should carefully study personalities and organisations from every sector and occupation and choose its ambassadors. They could be accountants, architects, auditors, doctors, engineers, farmers, carpenters, plumbers, surveyors, teachers, politicians (you don’t think there are honest politicians?), etc.

EFCC will root out the corruption culture when it sensitises the honest and punishes the looter.