EFCC Tackles Media Houses Over Campaign To ‘Irritate’ Magu

For the second time, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu never said corruption was the cause of the deadly epidemic, Coronavirus (Covid 19).

The EFCC in a statement on Sunday signed by its spokesman, Tony Orilade also tackled media houses over what it called “obsession of the traditional and new media with campaign to impugn and irritate the commission’s boss.”

The statement also decries the “pettiness and ill-will” in an opinion by a THISDAY editor published on Sunday, February 23, 2020 titled: ‘Magu’s curious Postulation On Covid 19’ “

Magu had tied the cause of coronavirus to corruption while delivering his speech at the passing out parade of 281 cadets of the EFCC Detective Inspector Course-5 in Kaduna last Tuesday. But the commission in a statement last Tuesday denied that its Chairman said such despite video evidence.

The EFCC boss during the event attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, said: “Corruption is the biggest tragedy to humankind. Your excellency, corruption is worse than all the diseases now running about.

“And I strongly believe, Your Excellency, that even the coronavirus is caused by corruption,” he had said.

However, the statement on Sunday, February 23, 2020, titled, ‘Covid 19: Understanding what Magu said’, the anti-graft agency said Magu only claimed that corruption was worse than cancer and coronavirus.

The commission instead, quoted Magu as saying, “Regarding the evil of corruption and the need for Nigerians to join hands in tackling the menace, Magu said, ‘your Excellency, corruption is worse than cancer, Ebola-virus, Corona-virus and all other deadly diseases put together.

“Fighting corruption is thus a crusade against the evils of our society that are deeply-rooted and threatening to consume us.

“We are aware that the task is not easy and the path can be very thorny and lonely, but with determination and a high sense of mission, we are making progress towards rooting out this evil from our society.  We all appreciate you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for embarking on this mission.”

Since its recent outbreak in Wuhan, China, coronavirus (COVID-19) has killed over 1,800 people across different countries and infected more than 70,000.