A former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, has described himself as a victim of corruption fighting back due to his ordeal in the agency.
Magu stated this when he received an award as “Achiever Per Excellence” from the Northern Female Students Association (NFSC) at the weekend in Abuja.
The former EFCC boss was in 2020 suspended as the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency at the beginning of the probe by the retired Justice Ayo Salami-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the petition by the attorney general of the Federation and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on allegations bordering on abuse of office and diversion of recovered assets.
Represented by his son, Mohammed-Saeed Magu, the former anti-corruption czar thanked the students for honouring his father, adding “he was a victim of corruption fighting back.”
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, which comprises students of universities in the 19 northern states, Aisha Nasir, enumerated why they chose to associate themselves with “a good man” who dedicated himself to national service.
“Love him or hate him, one argument that cannot be contested is the fact that Ibrahim Magu, when he was the chairman of the EFCC, has taken the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria to hitherto uncharted levels where many people thought could never be attained or that no one would have the courage to go in the war against corruption.
“Deconstructing corruption fight in Nigeria is a binding moral duty for common good that stakeholders need to double efforts upon and it requires seeing beyond political affiliations, standpoint, preference.”
“Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, the poster boy of the anti-corruption crusade, which has become the signature policy engagement of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has attracted both continental and global commendations for tackling what has been described across international platforms, as the number one factor militating against the growth and development of African nations and economies.”
The award is coming on the heels of the October 4 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which cleared Prophet Emmanuel Omale of erroneous allegation of laundering the sum of N573 million to purchase a property for Magu in Dubai, UAE.
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