The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has said that the dreaded coronavirus disease is caused by corruption.
He stated this at the passing out parade of 281 cadets of the EFCC Detective Inspector Course-5 held yesterday at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
Addressing the guests including President Muhammadu Buhari, the governors of Kaduna and Kebbi states, Messrs Nasir el-Rufai and Atiku Bagudu respectively, Magu who could not explain the relationship between corruption and coronavirus disease, which cause or cure has not been known, declared: “Corruption is the biggest strategy (sic) to human kind. Your Excellency, corruption is worse than all the diseases now running about.
“And I strongly believe, Your Excellency that even the coronavirus is caused by corruption.”
On the fight against corruption, Magu said it was a “crusade against the evils of our society that are deeply rooted and threatening to consume us.”
He said the EFCC recorded 203 convictions in 2015 when he took over the reins of the agency.
He said the figure rose to 195 in 2016; 314 in 2018 and over 1,218 in 2019.
“We are aware of the task is not easy and the path can be very thorny and lonely, but with determination and a high sense of mission, we are making a progress towards rooting out this evil from our society
“As part of vigorous pursuit, the commission has created new specialised directorate and section taking into cognisance the changing phase of criminality,” he said.
“This directorate includes asset forfeiture and recovery management directorate, forensic and science laboratory directorate, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism section,” he added.
