President Mohammed Buhari has tasked newly graduated cadets of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take the fight against corruption to the next level.
Buhari handed down the charge at Passing out of 328 detective Superintendent Course of the EFCC from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), on Saturday, stating: “I urge you to see your graduation not as a jamboree, but as a call for service to eradicate corruption in Nigeria, in line with the mandate of the EFCC.”
A press statement by the commussion’s spokesperson Mr Wilson Uwujaren in Abuja, said the President was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha as reviewing officer at the Passing-Out-Parade which held at the NDA Parade Ground, Ribadu Campus, Kaduna.
He said that corruption was “a malignant cancer that has blighted our development efforts over the years,” adding that: h”I am thrilled by the prospects which you bring to the corruption fight and my charge to you today, is to live by the values of discipline, integrity, selflessness, patriotism and professionalism, which the NDA and the EFCC are known for.”
According to him, the POP “fitted perfectly with the next agenda which has made significant progress with the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) by blocking leakages, and the Whistle-Blower Policy to facilitate the recovery of stolen funds.
“The priority going forward is to consolidate on the gains of the past years, and therefore need you as anti-corruption combatants to the next level.”
Uwujaren said the parade, which was the climax of the series of trainings, including military drills, physical fitness training, first aid, along with EFCC trainings in legal studies, general studies, financial studies, and operations studies, witnessed march-past in slow time and quick time to the delight of dignitaries.
He said five cadets received awards including: N. Ingawa, who won the Presidential Award for Best Overall Student; J.S. Ogbonkwu, bagged the Chief of Defence Staff Award as 2nd Best Cadet; A. Gabdo won the EFCC Chairman’s Award as 3rd Best Cadet; W.I. Imam won the NDA Commandant’s best overall cadet in military subjects; and A. Usman won the EFCC Chairman’s Award for Command and Leadership.
The spokesperson further stated that the governor of Kaduna state and chief host Nasir El-Rufai also gave cash prizes of N250,000 to all the awardees.
On his part, acting EFCC Chairman of the EFCC and host of the event , Ibrahim Magu, assured that the anti-graft agency would remain resolute in championing the agenda of President Buhari to eradicate corruption in Nigeria.
