The new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa has threatened to resigned if he is asked to compromise.
He made position known during an NTA interview program, One-On-One on Friday which was anchored by ace broadcaster, Cyril Stober. “We need to change our attitudes in Nigeria.”
Excerpts of the interview was thereafter posted on the Commission’s twitter handle in which he also gave insights into his plans to fight corruption.
Summary of the interview:
EFCC Nigeria@officialEFCC· He identified corruption as an encumbrance hampering the sustainable growth of the country, stressing the need for all hands to be on deck to deal with the menace.
According to Bawa, “We need to change our attitudes in Nigeria.
“We are in the habit of worshipping people that have money in the society, but never bother to ask questions about their source of income. In winning the fight against corruption, we are engaging all stakeholders including religious leaders, community leaders and others.
“We are going to embark on massive public enlightenment to sensitise people on the need to shun corruption in all its forms,” he said. The EFCC boss, who vowed to fight corruption with all his powers as allowed by law, said: “I will continue to do what is right.
“The Commission under my watch will continue to abide by the rule of law. If anybody asks me to do anything contrary to my conscience or against the rule of law, I will resign my appointment”.
The new EFCC Chairman added that, fighting corruption was an onerous task that should not be left in the hands of EFCC alone and urged Nigerians to stop glorifying corruption and corrupt people in the society.
He vowed that the EFCC under his watch would not relent in its determined efforts to bringing all corrupt elements, high or low in this country to justice.
According to him, “We have just created Directorate of Intelligence. We need to re-engage ourselves with all our stakeholders in the fight against corruption because this is something we cannot do alone, all hands must be on deck.
On the directive that all bankers should declare their assets before June 1, 2021, the anti-graft czar said there is no going back on the directive noting that, “laws permit the Commission to investigate assets of public officers including bankers”.
“There is a law called Bank Employee Declaration of Assets, Act 1986. We are not saying they should declare their assets to us. What we are saying is that they should declare it to the statutory bodies. We are going to be calling for it.
“As a Commission, we need to know what you have as a banker. Come June 1, 2021, we are going to be asking for it.” Bawa insisted.
Read also:
President Buhari Appoints Abdulrasheed Bawa as New EFCC Chairman