- Nuhu Ribadu has blamed dark forces for the continuous rejection of Ibrahim Magu's nomination as EFCC boss
- Ribadu said he experienced the same thing when he was removed as EFCC boss in 2007
- He urged Nigerians to come together and support Magu's fight against corruption
Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, has accused the corrupt people in the government of being behind his removal as EFCC boss in 2007.
Ribadu said the same set of people who sabotaged his fight against corruption by removing him are also behind the continuous rejection of Ibrahim Magu as the new EFCC boss.
Recall that NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Nigeria Senate rejected Magu's nomination after they reportedly got a letter from the Department of Secret Service (DSS) saying that Magu failed an integrity test.
According to a report by Daily Post, Ribadu, who made this statement at the 5th anniversary of Connected Development (CODE), said he understands what Magu is going through at the moment.
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He said: “I have passed through this myself. There is no doubt that the current anti-corruption regime in the country is working.
“We are witnessing essentially a classical case of state capture in which individuals, including those in high public office, use their position to undermine the state and its policies because of their personal interest.
“Unfortunately, some people who are supposed to be part of efforts at restitution are colluding with those who have stolen our commonwealth to frustrate the work of those who are genuinely committed in reversing the ugly trend.
“And as this unholy alliance of corrupt people in and out of government takes root, it is us, the ordinary Nigerians, that are the victims."
Ribadu said those who are against the anti-graft war have no idea of the impact of corruption on a country.
He said: “Those who have been a stumbling block to the war against corruption clearly do not understand or feel the biting impact of corruption. If they do, they would not put up the kind of resistance we are currently witnessing in the efforts to make a success of the anti-corruption war.
“At the implementation level, I am of the opinion that Ibrahim Magu and his team are doing a great job and they need the support of all well-meaning Nigerians.
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“I know how tough this work is, and I can appreciate the challenges they are contending with. We must support and encourage them. Not because we like or dislike them but because they are offering a selfless national service, and they are doing it very well.
“I have chosen to take a stand on this because I have passed through this myself and I see similar signs of those dark moments of 2007 hovering all over us.
“It is always a dangerous cocktail when some corrupt elements in power decide to side with private interests outside government, using the rule of law as a ruse, to muscle sincere efforts to tackle corruption."
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com earlier reported that a presidential aide, Okoi Obono-Obla, said Magu, could face consequences for insubordination if he fails to act on the letter written to him by Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice.
Obono-Obla’s warning was in respect to a letter by written by Abubakar Malami on Tuesday, August 1, requesting Magu to forward to his office the outcome of investigations along with its recommendations on “serious or complex” cases.
Watch NAIJ.com video of EFCC staff march against corruption:
ROSY CREST
Wednesday, 16 August 2017