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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and prominent leaders in the state took part in a walk organized by the South-South Zonal office of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to mark this year’s International Anti-corruption day, admonished the Agency to fight corruption within the ambit of the law.
Governor
Wike declared that any action outside the tenets of the law is corruption.
Governor
Wike spoke on Monday during the “Walk Against Corruption”
organised by the EFCC to mark this year’s International Anti-corruption Day.
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”.
He appealed
to the EFCC to ensure that they establish processes to fight corruption within
the rule of law.
“We
urge the EFCC to fight corruption within the law. Anything that is against the
rule of law is no longer a fight against corruption”, Governor Wike said.
He
reiterated that the Rivers State Government will support legal efforts by the
EFCC to end corruption in the system.
Governor
Wike announced that the Rivers State Government has resolved to donate another
premises to the EFCC to expand their operations in the state.
He said that
corruption has eaten deep into the national system, distorting the development
process in the country, hence all stakeholders should support 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”, he said.
Zonal Head
of EFCC, Port Harcourt, Mr Abdulrasheed Wahab said that EFCC is marking the
International Anti-corruption Day with sister agencies and para-military
agencies to sensitise the public on the fight against corruption.
He said this
year’s theme is zero tolerance for corruption in the maritime and transport
sectors. He said that the history of EFCC in Port Harcourt is 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 charged them to know their
captains and drivers to stem the tide of illegality.
He said that the EFCC has over the years worked for the recovery of more than N700billion and over $200 million (USD) and 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, 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. Governor Wike and the leaders also trekked back to Government House from the Rumuwoji Market.