The Head of Operations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Lagos zonal office, Garba Dugum, has urged Nigerians to join hands with the leadership of the Commission in its ongoing war against corruption and economic crimes.

He said looters of the nation’s wealth would no longer be treated with kid gloves.

Speaking today at the Lagos zonal office of the EFCC after engaging in an Anti-corruption Walk to mark this year’s United Nations Anti-Corruption Day, Dugum said: “No one among us here can feign ignorance of the damage that corruption has done to the image of the country in the comity of nations. The reason is not far-fetched. We have allowed the culture of impunity to linger for too long. But be assured that it is not going to be business as usual anymore.”

Dugum, who expressed his gratitude to the participants in yesterday’s anti-corruption walk for their resolve and commitment. “As stakeholders in this renewed onslaught against corruption, I urge you not to be disillusioned. We are living witnesses to the unfortunate campaigns of calumny and sponsored media attacks on the leadership of the Commission, but I assure you of our unbent resolve to bring the looters of our economy to book through the might of our judicial system.

“You and I know that there is so much rot in the system as a result of corruption. But if you will agree with me, there can’t be any more auspicious time to wrestle the menace to submission than now,” he said.

In her remarks, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, described corruption as a disease plaguing Nigeria’s development.

The rights activist also said that transparency was the only vaccine that could effectively treat the decease, which she said had hampered Nigeria’s growth

Okei-Odumakin urged Nigerians to own the fight against corruption, adding that “the judiciary must always speed up the cases of corruption.”

She stated that people who had perpetrated the heinous acts of looting the country’s wealth would be brought to book with the creation of special courts.

Also, the Chairman, Mobilization Committee for the Movement Against Corruption (MAC), Shina Odugbemi, said corruption had made things difficult for the citizenry.

Odugbemi added that the war against corruption might not be won, if Nigerians failed to consider all the negative impacts of corruption.

“He who steals N1bn has stolen one kilometre of an expressway. If we fail to fight corruption, our children and their own children will rain curses on us for eating our time and eating their own time too.

“Corruption is a disease; it is worse than HIV and it is that thing that will not make a nation grow. So, except we say no, our future is bleak.”

In his brief remarks, MAC Secretary, Femi Lawson, said the anti- corruption walk should not be seen as just an act of support to the EFCC, but as a responsibility for every patriotic Nigerian to take possession of the struggle.

He also said that if corruption could be defeated, provision of social amenities would be guaranteed in the country.

“As long as we see it as only the business of the EFCC and the political class, we may not be able to defeat corruption. It is a cankerworm; the war is ours. If we defeat corruption, it guarantees good road, quality education, well-equipped hospitals and so on. So, we must give red card to corruption.”

Staff of the EFCC were joined in the walk by several Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, and youth corps members, among others.

Participants carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Say No to Corruption; “Kill Corruption Now” as they marched through the streets in Lagos Island and Ikoyi axis.

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