Nigerian, International Groups Condemn Attack On EFCC Chairman

HEDA Resource Centre and its International partners - Global Witness, Corner House, Re:Common and World Anti-Corruption Research Network - have received with shock the news of unknown gunmen’s invasion of the farm and farm house of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu where a policeman was reportedly killed as a result of gunfire from the attackers.

HEDA condemns this heinous and barbaric act as criminal and as such, an attack that highlights the need for vigilance on the part of citizens and for a thorough investigation into the failures by the security services that allowed the attack to happen. Unresolved criminal activities embolden the perpetrators and others to commit more atrocities.

While HEDA is not ruling out the possibility of pro-corruption elements fighting back to take a pound of flesh from EFCC led by its Chairman, for its successful fight against Corruption which have consequence for the corrupt in the country. We therefore call for immediate investigation to unravel the criminals behind this attack and bring them to Justice.

Again, we call on government to pay higher premium to provision of security for Nigerians in general and EFCC in particular. An attempt was made on life of Pioneer chairman of the Commission and those behind the dastardly act are still to be apprehended over 10 years down the line. Some assailants invaded an office of the EFCC recently and the invaders are still freely working the street.

As beneficiaries of Corruption are set to fight back in days leading to the 2019 elections, we call on government to rejig the security system and reposition them for realities of present days.

We reject any attempt by any group of people to use the tactics of intimidation through such brazen and dastard acts to disrupt the ongoing fight against corruption.

HEDA and its partners recently organized training workshops in Lagos and Abuja on ‘Tracing Noxious Funds’ for investigative journalists, civil society activists and Law enforcement officers. This was in recognition of commendable achievements in the anti-corruption drive of the government in General and EFCC in particular.