Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has argued that for the fight against corruption in Nigeria to succeed, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has to beam its searchlight on former leaders.
He said “until we make some of our past leaders walk through those doors of the EFCC new office, the fight against corruption would not have the needed traction.”
Soyinka spoke on Monday at the opening of a meeting of heads of anticorruption agencies from Commonwealth Africa, in Abuja.
He said he was at the new office building of the anti-corruption agency at the weekend “to see what will be the modest hospitality” for suspects.
The literary giant said he asked the EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, for the “presidential wing” of the cells, saying he asked out of his human rights concerns to ensure such personalities are well treated while in detention.
“But Magu said they are an egalitarian organisation that treats people equally,” he said told the audience.
Soyinka said all the money stolen by former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha should be fully recovered.
The Nobel laureate particularly made reference to a leader of a neighbouring country who, he alleged, collected millions for the purpose.
In his welcome address, Magu described the presence of his colleagues from Commonwealth African countries for the meeting as an endorsement of Nigeria’s efforts against corruption.