By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a pan-African students’ group, has called for immediate scrapping of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and replacing it with a new anti-graft commission.

The President of PSM, Mr Bestman Okereafor, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday.

Okereafor said that the attention of the leadership of PSM had been drawn to the suspension of the acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, by the presidency in relation to alleged corruption charges.

“As progressives we have studied the activities of the EFCC and have discovered that the commission has over the years compromised in the discharge of its duties.

“These compromises range from shielding some corrupt entities at the expense of a few others, political infiltration, extortion of our youths as well as bias in the discharge of its duties among several others.

“In lieu of these developments, PSM is calling on the anti-corruption General in Africa, President Muhammadu Buhar, to as a matter of urgency scrap EFCC and set up a fresh unbiased, trustworthy, and uncompromising anti-graft agency in replacement for EFCC.

“He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

“Nigerian students and youths have long ago lost confidence in EFCC. No doubt, the Magu saga has vindicated all who think EFCC is corrupt and bias,” he said.

The PSM boss said that the group appreciated the Inspector-General of Police for immediate redeployment of all police personnel attached to EFCC.

“But as progressives and ideological stakeholders in the Next Level Agenda; we are unsatisfied and have lost absolute trust in EFCC,” he said.

In another development, Okereafor called on the Federal Government to consider reopening schools.

“We see no reason why markets, banks, airports, among others are opened while schools are locked.

“Let it not be believed that the aim of the ‘Boko Haram’ has been actualised, which is the opposition of western education,” he added.

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