Mr Ibrahim Magu, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has received an “Excellent Performance” award, praise and commendation as “a dogged fighter and patriotic Nigerian, whose legacy would never be forgotten.”
These came on Thursday, July 18, 2019, from the out-going members of Anti-corruption Community Development Service (ACCDS) of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), Kwara State, led by its president, Emmanuel Mordi.
According to Mordi, who presented the award to Magu through EFCC’s Head, Ilorin Zonal Office, Mr Isyaku Sharu, “We sat down together to review your efforts and after we looked at all your achievements across the 36 states of the federation, including Kwara State, our club, the Anti-corruption Community Development Service, and all our members agreed that you should be given this, having considered you as a man of honour.”
Speaking further, Mordi declared that “Without being told, Nigerians and the international community are aware that the country has recorded huge successes in the fight against corruption, they know that we are making progress.”
The ACCDS president observed that the group had been doing well in the area of public sensitization on the dangers of corruption on the future generation of Nigerians via radio and television.
Receiving the award on behalf Magu, Sharu, thanked the members of the NYSC for the gesture.
“All of you are my younger brothers and sisters. I must commend you for coming with this surprise. The Commission would partner with you. On your Own, you go for advocacy programmes on radio and television stations, and other places. This shows that you are partnering with us,” Sharu stated.
While urging youth corps members to strive to be self-reliant after service, Sharu said, “I want to tell you that outside there, it’s not all that easy. This underscores the need for you to have something doing and know that people could succeed in doing business too, is all about mindset and knowing what you are doing.”
In a related development, Magu charged Nigerian youth to stay away from all forms financial crimes, particularly internet fraud. He stated this on Friday, July 19, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital while receiving the executive members of the Nigerian Youth Parliament who came on a courtesy visit to the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Commission.
The EFCC boss who was represented by Sharu, noted that the menace of internet fraud and other fraud related offences was a serious one for the society, noting that “it takes investors away from the country. We must come together to fight it. You are part and parcel of the system. You must contribute your quotas in the ongoing fight against corruption. You can only get justice, fairness and equality where corruption does not strive. We are here to arrest and prosecute offenders but you are the one that interact with the people, that is where issue of partnership comes in.”
Magu further stated that he was more interested in fraud prevention.
“The advocacy starts now. I feel pain when I am talking of internet fraud. Youth want to make it at all cost. You must not go into crimes. If you want to live in peace, you must live within the provisions of the law,” Magu said.
Leader of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon Abdulkareem Abdulkareem commended the EFCC boss for his efforts in the anti-corruption fight in the country.
“We appreciate your efforts for making Kwara State to be free of corruption. We are here to pay you a solidarity visit; we want to partner with you. We thank you for helping us to redeem the image of Kwara State.”
Packaged by Emmanuel Okafor
