The acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has stated his commitment to the anti-graft war, declaring that he would be prepared to pay the supreme price if need be in the course of his work.
“I am not afraid of anything. I prefer to die fighting corruption if need be,” Mr. Magu told a group of senior lawyers in Lagos on Thursday.
The lawyers visited the EFCC boss to express their support for the fight against corruption.
Lately, the EFCC has lambasted lawyers and judges in the country, accusing them of helping looters of the nation’s treasury to escape justice and share in the proceeds of corruption.
Mr. Magu praised the visiting lawyers for the support, and expressed regret that some unpatriotic Nigerians including senior lawyers have joined forces “with fraudsters and those who looted our commonwealth by becoming coaches and technical advisers on how to escape justice”.
He admonished lawyers to allow the interest of Nigeria and good conscience to guide them when accepting briefs.
Earlier Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who led the group, said they were at the Commission to express support for the EFCC and the chairman for revamping the fight against corruption.
He said though lawyers have been accused of attempting to frustrate the work of the Commission, there were however good lawyers ready to support the EFCC in advancing the fight against corruption.
He urged the Commission to name and shame those who are frustrating the work rather than generalize the allegation.
“Let us name and shame corrupt judges and lawyers. The good ones are prepared to work with you,” he said. He warned lawyers who think they can intimidate the EFCC, that some of them are ready to support and defend the Commission.
Luke Aghanenu who also spoke at the event said the Commission should know that corruption will also fight back and the recent attack by some lawyers was a clear example. He said as long as the EFCC does it work rightly, people will always criticize the Commission.
Another lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, said the reason he was part of the solidarity visit, was his belief in the integrity of the EFCC chairman and his effort to revamp the fight against corruption.
He condemned the activities of some lawyers who were castigating the EFCC as pure criminality and urged them not to hide under the cover of lawyer- client confidentiality to become accomplices to mega graft.
He assured the EFCC chairman that, they will continue to support the EFCC as long as it remains truthful and faithful to its mandate.
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