President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday restated his commitment to the fight against corruption in the country and vowed that his administration would not shield any corrupt person from investigation or prosecution by the anti-graft agencies in the country.
The president, who spoke through Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the opening ceremony of the 8th National Seminar on Economic Crimes at the Training and Research Institute of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja, promised that government would continue to support and encourage the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies to confront the monster of corruption more decisively. He charged the anti-graft agencies not to spare any culprit, regardless of his status or position. He said: “We will give all the necessary support and encouragement to all the anti-corruption agencies to vigorously enforce the enabling anti-corruption laws. I urge these agencies to do their works fairly but firmly within the ambit of the law without regard to position or status. There shall be no sacred cows. This government will not protect any so-called sacred cows. The wheel of justice must run its full course in tackling anti-corruption cases.” He said his government was committed to fighting graft to save the nation the horrific effects of corruption. He congratulated the EFCC for the results recorded so far and said: “I urge the commission not to rest on its oars; for the job ahead is daunting but surmountable. There are still huge stolen assets left un-recovered abroad in safe havens.” The commission must work hard in collaboration with the office of the Attorney General of the Federation; the designated central authority, to recover and return those funds. Government appreciates the peculiar challenges facing anti-graft agencies. It will do everything possible within the law to facilitate the work of the agencies.” In a keynote address, the Liberian President, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, took an historical excursion into the travails of her country, lamenting the nation's huge losses to graft and poor governance, in spite of the enormous natural resources available in the country. She said that through "structural and systemic reforms", she has succeeded in stirring Liberia out of "systemic and suicidal corruption level". She gave the credit to the independence of the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LAC), fashioned after the EFCC, and with un-fettered freedom to carry out its job. "The Liberian Anti-corruption Commission is independent of the Ministry of Justice. It investigates and acts on any information on corruption. The LAC is getting better. Presently, its prosecutorial power lies in the judicial system of the Ministry of Justice. There is an anomaly in this and two weeks ago, I submitted to the legislature a bill to amend the act which established the anti-corruption Commission. The fight against corruption requires the Commission to be strengthened with direct but not exclusive powers to prosecute cases involving corruption and related offence", she stated. To read more, click: http://www.thisdayonline.com/
The president, who spoke through Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the opening ceremony of the 8th National Seminar on Economic Crimes at the Training and Research Institute of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja, promised that government would continue to support and encourage the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies to confront the monster of corruption more decisively. He charged the anti-graft agencies not to spare any culprit, regardless of his status or position. He said: “We will give all the necessary support and encouragement to all the anti-corruption agencies to vigorously enforce the enabling anti-corruption laws. I urge these agencies to do their works fairly but firmly within the ambit of the law without regard to position or status. There shall be no sacred cows. This government will not protect any so-called sacred cows. The wheel of justice must run its full course in tackling anti-corruption cases.” He said his government was committed to fighting graft to save the nation the horrific effects of corruption. He congratulated the EFCC for the results recorded so far and said: “I urge the commission not to rest on its oars; for the job ahead is daunting but surmountable. There are still huge stolen assets left un-recovered abroad in safe havens.” The commission must work hard in collaboration with the office of the Attorney General of the Federation; the designated central authority, to recover and return those funds. Government appreciates the peculiar challenges facing anti-graft agencies. It will do everything possible within the law to facilitate the work of the agencies.” In a keynote address, the Liberian President, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, took an historical excursion into the travails of her country, lamenting the nation's huge losses to graft and poor governance, in spite of the enormous natural resources available in the country. She said that through "structural and systemic reforms", she has succeeded in stirring Liberia out of "systemic and suicidal corruption level". She gave the credit to the independence of the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LAC), fashioned after the EFCC, and with un-fettered freedom to carry out its job. "The Liberian Anti-corruption Commission is independent of the Ministry of Justice. It investigates and acts on any information on corruption. The LAC is getting better. Presently, its prosecutorial power lies in the judicial system of the Ministry of Justice. There is an anomaly in this and two weeks ago, I submitted to the legislature a bill to amend the act which established the anti-corruption Commission. The fight against corruption requires the Commission to be strengthened with direct but not exclusive powers to prosecute cases involving corruption and related offence", she stated. To read more, click: http://www.thisdayonline.com/
