Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu has expressed concern that the agency is faced with a task of repatriate stolen public funds.
According to Magu, Thursday, the agency is fighting powerful forces in its anti-corruption war, however, said the commission has the determination to push the war against corruption to its logical conclusion.
Magu, who made the submissions in an address at the 3rd African Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja by the EFCC, said Africa needs all her assets back.
The Roundtable Discussion was designed to mark the 3rd African Anti-Corruption Day.
He said: “Today more than ever before, we need more collaboration. When government agencies, different bodies, continents and countries partner and synergise on collaborative ventures like this, the benefits are enormous.
“There is no greater way to see government policies in action than this layer of collaboration. I believe that others would explore this kind of synergy to fast track efforts being made towards curbing corruption and achieving overall development across the African continent.
“Thus, this new synergy on Asset Recovery between stakeholders is particularly necessary as I believe it will spur the development of a framework that will be mutually agreed upon and will have lasting impact.
“I firmly believe that the resolutions of this dialogue will undoubtedly create effective multi-stakeholder cooperation.
“This synergy has become absolutely necessary because the forces that we are up against are powerful and have enormous resources which they are ever willing to deploy in their never-ending efforts to frustrate the war against corruption.
“We need the support of all stakeholders if we are going to prevail against the forces of retrogression. I take encouragement and inspiration from the presence of all representatives here and do indeed bid us all very productive deliberations and welcome to the dialogue.”
Magu expressed concerns that it has been difficult to repatriate assets stolen from Africa but stashed in safe havens abroad.
He said: “Corruption affects the security of a nation as we have experienced in Nigeria in recent times. The situation distorts the stability and national economic planning process; as a result of the review of priorities to accommodate dire security challenges given the constitutional imperative which places a premium on the security of lives and property as the critical function of government.