• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

      PRNigeria logo fearured image

      EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

      EFCC Arrests 37 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ilorin

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR

      Nigeria Customs, India Forge Deeper Bond on Trade Oversight

      Managing Editor of Image Merchants, Mr Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, PR Expert, Celestine Achi and the Editor-in-chief, Yushau Shuaib presenting the book to PRNigeria center

      PRNigeria Commends New Book on Artificial Intelligence in Public Relations

      Nigeria Customs, ICPC Strengthen Anti-Corruption Collaboration

      FG, States, LGAs Share N1.659trn Revenue in May 2025 – FAAC

      DG NIPSS Ayo Omotola and Yushau A. Shuaib of PRNigeria

      PRNigeria Founder Demands ₦1bn, Reinstatement in Legal Notice to NIPSS Over…

  • National
    • Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd) of NDLEA at AVM Sayo Olatunde book launch at Nigerian Army War College NARC Abuja

      Marwa: NDLEA Nabbed 66,085 Drug Suspects, Secured 12,201 Convictions in 53…

      President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

      Tinubu Withholds Assent to NDLEA Amendment Bill, Gives Reason

      Police Officer

      Police Bust Transnational Cybercrimes, Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 46 Victims

      FIRS Scrapped as Tinubu Signs Landmark Tax Reform Bills to Modernize…

      Court Rejects EFCC’s Bid to Cross-Examine Own Witness in Yahaya Bello’s…

    • Government
      • Executive Secretary/CEO of National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr Kamar Bakrin

        How we’re Tackling Impediments to Sugar Production – NSDC Boss

        NDLEA Logo

        NDLEA commissions premier drug rehab center in Yobe

        President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

        Tinubu Withholds Assent to NDLEA Amendment Bill, Gives Reason

        FIRS Scrapped as Tinubu Signs Landmark Tax Reform Bills to Modernize…

        Court Rejects EFCC’s Bid to Cross-Examine Own Witness in Yahaya Bello’s…

  • Security
    • Military Troops in Action

      Troops Foil Robbery Attempt, Eliminate 2 Suspects, Arrest 2 Others in…

      Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd) of NDLEA at AVM Sayo Olatunde book launch at Nigerian Army War College NARC Abuja

      Marwa: NDLEA Nabbed 66,085 Drug Suspects, Secured 12,201 Convictions in 53…

      NDLEA Logo

      NDLEA commissions premier drug rehab center in Yobe

      Police Officer

      Police Bust Transnational Cybercrimes, Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 46 Victims

      Military Troops in Action

      Troops Kill 2 Bandits in Niger as Vigilantes Neutralize 3 in…

  • Features
    • Rear Admiral Ayo Olugbode,

      Mapping Nigeria’s Maritime Future: The $10 Million Hydrographic Drive By Kabir…

      Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello o

      Yahaya Bello: Flawed, Misunderstood, Yet Impactful By Hafsat Ibrahim

      When Travellers Become Targets By Kabiru Danladi Lawanti, Ph D.

      Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd) of NDLEA at AVM Sayo Olatunde book launch at Nigerian Army War College NARC Abuja

      Faith, Youth and NDLEA’s New Drug Warfront By Arafat A. Abdulrazaq

      Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador

      Ambassador Tuggar: Recasting Nigeria’s Global Image By Umar Farouk Bala

  • State
    • Military Troops in Action

      Troops Foil Robbery Attempt, Eliminate 2 Suspects, Arrest 2 Others in…

      Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd) of NDLEA at AVM Sayo Olatunde book launch at Nigerian Army War College NARC Abuja

      Marwa: NDLEA Nabbed 66,085 Drug Suspects, Secured 12,201 Convictions in 53…

      NDLEA Logo

      NDLEA commissions premier drug rehab center in Yobe

      Police Officer

      Police Bust Transnational Cybercrimes, Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 46 Victims

      Court Rejects EFCC’s Bid to Cross-Examine Own Witness in Yahaya Bello’s…

  • Event
    • EFCC Witness: Yahaya Bello Had No Property Dealings With EFAB

      Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu (RMS), with PRNigeria Ladies in PR I'm Abuja

      Rukayat Shittu Set to Publish Inspirational Book “Cracking the Glass Ceiling”,…

      Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo

      Former Kwara Governor, Chief Adebayo, Dies at 84

      Managing Editor of Image Merchants, Mr Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, PR Expert, Celestine Achi and the Editor-in-chief, Yushau Shuaib presenting the book to PRNigeria center

      PRNigeria Commends New Book on Artificial Intelligence in Public Relations

      Celestine Achi, AI in PR specialist

      IAAIEL Appoints Celestine Achi to Drive Strategic AI Communications

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home Anti-Corruption NBA Must not Allow Corruption to Kill Nigeria
  • Anti-Corruption

NBA Must not Allow Corruption to Kill Nigeria

By
Ibrahim Mustafa Magu
-
February 10, 2016
Ibrahim Magu of EFCC
Ibrahim Magu of EFCC

Ibrahim Magu
Ibrahim Magu

Gentlemen of the noble and learned profession, I welcome you all to this meeting. I am indeed, highly honoured that the National Executive of perhaps the most important, organised stakeholder with direct influence on the work that we do here at the EFCC, has chosen to call on me today. It has become necessary to have this meeting given the widespread corruption pervading the land. As you all know, corruption is probably the greatest problem facing our dear country Nigeria and it has to be nipped in the bud timely.

The war against economic and financial crimes, is fought on a number of flanks, some of which include fraud, corruption and money laundering. However, there is no flank from which the war is waged, that the input and effects of professionals such as lawyers, bankers and journalists are not felt, either as part of the problem or as critical ingredients in the solution mix.

Law enforcement, just as the judiciary, encompassing the bar and bench, is a critical link in the justice delivery system of any society. The two, whilst they operate independent of one another, cannot afford, in the interest of the society, to pull in divergent directions.

I dare say that even when opinions and tactics differ, the interests of the two blocs cannot but converge on the overriding interest of the people.

It was along that line, that I pledged on my appointment (and have maintained ever since) , that I would discharge my duties as the head of the EFCC, guided solely by the fear of Almighty God, the overriding interest of our fatherland, Nigeria and the Rule of Law.

I have tried to keep faith with those principles, in appreciation of the enormous burden placed on my shoulders by Mr. President and the huge expectations of ordinary Nigerians.

In the history of our country, there has never been a more destructive force than corruption and the war that we have been recruited to fight, is not one for the faint at heart nor is it a war of half-measures.

I can tell you without fear of contradiction, that we at the EFCC are totally committed to the war against economic and financial crimes, including corruption and money laundering. Our people have suffered too long to continue to be abandoned to the cruel fate imposed by crooks and thieves. We are willing hostages to the urgency of now and cannot afford to fail our compatriots.

There are positions being pushed by some members of your association that the fight against corruption is one sided and biased and therefore not fair, but you and I know this is not a balanced argument. We all know that crimes have no political affiliation. And the victims of crimes such as money laundering, embezzlement, diversion of funds and fraud are the ordinary Nigerians and even you and me. Furthermore, is it a defence in law to say that one individual indicted of any of these crimes should not be prosecuted because another individual who is perceived to be corrupt has not yet been prosecuted? As officers in the temple of justice I enjoin you all to join in the campaign against corruption.

The duties and responsibilities imposed on us by our current realities are directly linked to the shared vision of Nigerians to live, work and aspire in a just and equitable society.

Read Also:

  • Troops Foil Robbery Attempt, Eliminate 2 Suspects, Arrest 2 Others in Kaduna
  • Marwa: NDLEA Nabbed 66,085 Drug Suspects, Secured 12,201 Convictions in 53 Months
  • How we’re Tackling Impediments to Sugar Production – NSDC Boss

However, the arduous task of reaching that goal is not an enterprise that can be undertaken by only an individual, group of persons or a section of the society. All hands must be on deck. That is why I find very significant, the chance offered me today to meet minds with you, who, individually and as a bloc, are some of the most important stakeholders in the fight against corruption.

From the very beginning, the EFCC realised the place of lawyers in the work it has been assigned to do. That is why, in addition to investigators, one of the group of professionals we carefully assembled on the creation of the Commission, were prosecutors -both internal and external.

We knew then as we do today, that most of our work must necessarily end up in court. The fact that no agency of government in Nigeria has beaten the prosecution and conviction record of the EFCC is a testimony to the professional premiums we place on diligent investigation and prosecution.

Notwithstanding our hard-won successes, we are very worried that on a number of occasions, some members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have elected to side with those who do not want the good of Nigeria. I believe it is part of the professional ethical code of lawyers to ask questions as to the source of their clients’ wealth.

While we are mindful of the fact that there may be more than one side to a situation which are equally deserving of robust presentation and defence, we believe that no matter the positions we take on any issue, Nigeria should come first.

It is you who say that justice should be a three-way street: justice to the victim; justice to the perpetrator of the crime and justice to the society. But, society is not served when prominent members of the Bar not only take clearly tainted briefs but even facilitate the commission of crimes by knowingly supplying the technical know-how and later, helping in the dispersal of the proceeds of crime.

This is where we have -and will continue to have issues with the concerned individuals. And this is where so much is expected from the NBA.

As a Commission, EFCC has the greatest respect for members of the Bar and Bench and regard the NBA highly for all the sacrifices of its members, both living and dead, who through professional practice of the highest standards and dogged, focused advocacy, have helped in the achievements we celebrate today not just in the EFCC, but in Nigeria as a whole.

But, we must tell ourselves the truth: there are lawyers within the fold of the NBA who ought not to be among your noble ranks. Those people are not fit to be called ministers, rather, they are vandals of the temple of justice.

The burden of expectation is not only on the shoulders of those of us at the EFCC; Nigerians expect so much from you as well.

The NBA is at a critical junction in the justice delivery chain and being as it is, a self-regulating professional association, so much is expected from the body in ensuring that all members attain the highest possible professional heights, not judged by how many briefs they have or how fat those briefs are, but by how much professional integrity and patriotism they infuse into their practice.

We have no other country than this one to call our own; let us join hands to build the Nigeria of our dream.
In closing, permit me to place on record the invaluable support that the EFCC has received over the years, from very many committed members of the NBA and the body as a whole.

I believe we are on the same page with President Muhammadu Buhari and the majority of Nigerians on the war against corruption. Therefore, let us join forces to “Kill Corruption before it Kills Nigeria.”

I thank you for your kind attention.

Thia remarks was delivered by Ibrahim Mustafa Magu Ag. Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission during a Courtesy Call by the National Executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Magu
  • NBA
Previous articleDikwa Suicide Bombing Records 58 Death, 78 Injured
Next articleAGF Visits Chief Of Army Staff Plegdes Commitment To War Against Insurgency
Ibrahim Mustafa Magu
Ibrahim Mustafa Magu
https://prnigeria.com/

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

ASUU

Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences Kano Make-Up Artist for Naira Abuse

PRNigeria logo fearured image

EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

EFCC Arrests 37 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ilorin

EFCC, CCC and the Battle Against Corruption in Nigeria, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Chairman

EFCC’s Anti-Corruption War: Between Media Trial and Intelligence-Driven Operations

Olayiwola Oguntade

Court Sentences Ex JAMB Staff for N10m Fraud in Ibadan

Diezani-Alison-Madueke

Nigeria, US sign MoU to repatriate $53m linked to former oil minister, Diezani

EFCC Sacks 27 Fraudulent Officers for Misconduct

Court Okays EFCC’s Request to Freez 67 Bank Accounts Over Alleged Fraud

Official_JAMB_logo

JAMB, NRC Top ICPC Integrity Ranking

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • Troops Foil Robbery Attempt, Eliminate 2 Suspects, Arrest 2 Others in Kaduna
  • Marwa: NDLEA Nabbed 66,085 Drug Suspects, Secured 12,201 Convictions in 53 Months
  • How we’re Tackling Impediments to Sugar Production – NSDC Boss
  • Mapping Nigeria’s Maritime Future: The $10 Million Hydrographic Drive By Kabir Abdulsalam
  • NDLEA commissions premier drug rehab center in Yobe
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Troops Foil Robbery Attempt, Eliminate 2 Suspects, Arrest 2 Others in KadunaMarwa: NDLEA Nabbed 66,085 Drug Suspects, Secured 12,201 Convictions in 53 MonthsHow we’re Tackling Impediments to Sugar Production - NSDC BossMapping Nigeria’s Maritime Future: The $10 Million Hydrographic Drive By Kabir AbdulsalamNDLEA commissions premier drug rehab center in YobeTinubu Withholds Assent to NDLEA Amendment Bill, Gives ReasonPolice Bust Transnational Cybercrimes, Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 46 VictimsFIRS Scrapped as Tinubu Signs Landmark Tax Reform Bills to Modernize Fiscal SystemCourt Rejects EFCC's Bid to Cross-Examine Own Witness in Yahaya Bello's TrialYahaya Bello: Flawed, Misunderstood, Yet Impactful By Hafsat IbrahimTroops Kill 2 Bandits in Niger as Vigilantes Neutralize 3 in ZamfaraTinubu: Civil Service is the Engine of Renewed Hope AgendaWhen Travellers Become Targets By Kabiru Danladi Lawanti, Ph D.To Stay Ahead, Nigerian Military Must Embrace Innovation — CNSStakeholders Applaud NUPRC, Komolafe for Upholding Regulatory Standards
X whatsapp