BY OWOLOLA ADEBOLA
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has called on members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) to complement the efforts of the Commission in the anti-corruption fight by making available to the EFCC, credible information that would be profitable in the fight.
He made this call in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Thursday, June 18, 2020 when executives of the Rivers State Chapter of the CDHR came on a courtesy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Commission.
The EFCC boss, who was represented at the occasion by the Head, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Mr. Usman Imam noted that the EFCC can achieve much in the fight against corruption by leveraging on a masses-based organization such as CDHR, “whose voice resonates with the people.”
According to Magu, the fight against corruption is a fight for human rights as corruption denies the people the benefits of the country’s common wealth. “Some of the avoidable deaths arising from our dilapidated roads and poor health facilities are ultimately the cumulative effect of corruption. So, fighting corruption is a significant step toward guaranteeing the right to life for the average Nigerian,” he said.
The chairman Rivers State Chapter of the CDHR, Comrade Amadi Onuoha disclosed that he was at the Commission to seek ways his organization can support the patriotic work of the EFCC in the zone. While pledging CDHR’s support in the Commission’s fight against corruption in the zone, Onuoha expressed worry over attacks on civil society activists who speak out against corruption and called on the Commission to ensure protection of whistle-blowers.