Wike Urges EFCC To Fight Corruption Lawfully

Gov. Wike

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to fight corruption within the ambit of the law.

According to Statement by Wike’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, the governor made the appeal on Monday in Port Harcourt during the `”Walk Against Corruption’”.

The walk against corruption’ was organised by the EFCC to mark this year’s International Anti-corruption Day in Rivers.

It stated that the governor also declared at the occasion that any action outside the tenets of the law is corruption.

He said: “EFCC should fight corruption within the ambit of the law. We will support EFCC to fight corruption within the ambit of the law. Anything outside the law, Rivers State Government will not be part of it. Fighting corruption outside the law is corruption.”

The governor also restated his administration’s commitment to support legal efforts by the EFCC to end corruption in the system.

Wike announced that the State government had resolved to donate another premises to the EFCC to expand the agency’s operations in Rivers.

According to Wike, corruption has eaten deep into the national system, distorting the development process in the country, requiring all stakeholders’ support to the EFCC to fight corruption.

“EFCC alone cannot fight corruption.  It requires all Nigerians to join hands to fight corruption. If you are in my Government and you don’t want to fight corruption, you cannot be in my Government. Without law, EFCC cannot be in existence.  It is the law that created EFCC.  So you must work within the law. Nigerians should know that corruption has eaten deep into the society.  Corruption has set us back.  We must all come out to join EFCC to fight corruption,” Wike stated.

The Zonal Head of EFCC, Port Harcourt, Mr Abdulrasheed Wahab, said that EFCC  marked the International Anti-corruption Day with sister agencies and para-military organisations to sensitise the public on the fight against corruption.

He said that this year’s theme was zero tolerance for corruption in the maritime and transport sectors.

The statement also quoted Wahab as saying that the history of EFCC in Port Harcourt was that of EFCC investigating the oil sector; illegal oil bunkering; crude oil theft; economic sabotage; and other related crimes in the maritime sector.

Wahab urged vessel owners, badge owners, boats and vehicles owners to be law abiding and obtain all relevant licenses from relevant authorities.

He also charged them to know their captains and drivers to stem the tide of illegality.

Wahab said that the EFCC had over the years worked for the recovery of more than N700 billion and over 200million US Dollars as well as 407 mansions to the Federal Government.

He urged all groups to join the fight against corruption in the interest of the development of the country.

Leaders of Civil Society groups, the maritime sector and para-military agencies who spoke after the walk declared their support in the fight against corruption.

The walk against corruption started at the EFCC Zonal Office at Old GRA and terminated at the Rumuwoji Market.

Wike and other leaders in Rivers also trekked back to Government House from the Rumuwoji Market.