The patrons of corruption hate punishment, says Magu

Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says the “patrons of corruption” hate being punished.

Speaking at an anti-corruption rally in Abuja on Tuesday, Magu said the commission had proven that there is no scared cow in the fight against corruption.

He said impunity in public affairs had been checked to a considerable extent, but that a “band of corrupt elite” who was fighting the efforts of the EFCC.

“The reign of impunity in the conduct of public affairs has been checked to a considerable extent by taking on the high and mighty in all sectors,” Magu said.

“The EFCC has proven that there is no sacred cow in the fight against corruption. All of these have been made possible by a new political climate in Nigeria under President Buhari who has demonstrated the will to fight corruption by not interfering the operation of the anti-graft agencies.

“This ordinarily should provide impetus for greater exploits. Sadly, that is not the case. A band of corrupt elite threatened by momentum of the anti-graft war wants to derail the process.

“They are deadly, and without remorse, they plot and scheme to defeat the anti-corruption and take the country back to the dark days when corruption and impunity reign supreme. When most of us who feel the pain of corruption are asking for bigger convictions, the cabal profiteering from corruption will want the campaign watered down.

“When many Nigerians are calling for stiffer punishments for corrupt, the patrons of corruption are saying it does not pay to punish the corrupt. When we are sweating in the sun to express our collective hatred for corruption; they are busy in their ACs in their mansions plotting how to continue the looting.

“I believe that God will not allow them to succeed because they have exposed themselves as the true enemies of the masses of Nigeria. These wicked people must be defeated. The days of impunity are gone forever. Nigerians who are fed up with the status quo yearn for change. The change they want is not a return to impunity. The change they want is not to return to looting. Nigerians are fed up with the looters.”