Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has claimed that the two anti-corruption agencies he created during his tenure, have been politicized by his successors.
According to him, they turned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to political entities.
Obasanjo stated this while delivering the annual public lecture of the Dorcas Oke Hope Alive Initiative (DOHA).
According to him: “When I was elected president in 1999, my administration took the issue of corruption very seriously and we established anti- corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC.
“They were provided with political support needed to fight corruption and they did their best.
“But after we left office, they became politicised and weakened to a level that they were unable to provide their services.
“In fact, one of the governors jailed for corruption was supposed to find replacement for EFCC boss then Nuhu Ribadu. You know the type of replacement he would bring.”
The former President added: “We must strengthen these institutions especially in carrying out prosecution because government alone cannot fight corruption.
“It is very disheartening when the law enforcement agency carefully investigates a case and the culprit finds his way around the judiciary to escape.
“Corrupt people and accomplices must be punished. We cannot afford to have sacred cows in the fight against corruption.”
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