Sagay Admits Buhari ‘Too Slow’ In Fighting Corruption

Professor Itse Sagay has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s style of fighting corruption as “too slow”.

Sagay, who is the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), condemned the Presidency’s slowness in acting on the cases of the suspended Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the present government is actually fighting corruption in accordance with its mandate and promises. There is no question about that,” the PACAC Chairman told Seun Okinbaloye of Channels TV.

“But on the specific issue of the suspended Secretary to the Federal Government and the Director of the NIA, I would agree that action has been much too slow and there should be immediate decision on this matter so that we can put it to rest and move on. I agree with that,” he said.

On the perceived selective nature of the anti-corruption fight by the Buhari administration, Sagay said:

“I think there is an even-handed approach to the issue of fighting corruption. Everybody who is suspected of corruption or the commission of economic and financial crimes will be investigated and the EFCC and the ICPC who are the bodies who are invested with the authority to act in such matters will act in accordance with their own priority.

“I think we should make it clear. We cannot handle all cases of corruption at the same time. As you know, in this country, cases of corruption go right from the top and permeate to the lowest level.

“So, there are hundreds of thousands of corruption cases. It makes sense for the agencies to choose what to pick and what to drop,” he said.