‘FG will remain resolute in anti-corruption fight’ – Yemi Osinbajo

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• Osinbajo also stated that though EFCC may not be perfect, the agency remains focused on the task expected of it.

Yemi Osinbajo

Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo says the Federal Government will remain resolute in its fight against corruption in spite of the daunting challenges.

Osinbajo said this in Lagos at the fifth annual Christopher Kolade Lecture on Business Integrity entitled: ‘Prevention is better than Cure even on the Issue of Corruption’.

The lecture was organised by the Integrity Organisation Limited, an anti-corruption, research and advocacy organisation concerned with issues of public accountability and transparency.

‘We must ensure that corruption is prosecuted,’  Osinbajo said.

He added, ‘In the last two years, we have had many cases of persons accused of corruption taken to the courts.

‘We have a hardworking and courageous team as most of our law enforcement agencies and the EFCC have worked commendably despite daunting challenges.

Osinbajo also stated that though EFCC may not be perfect, the agency remains focused on the task expected of it.

‘Of course they are not perfect and there are several complaints, but what is obvious is that they have focused on the work of investigation and prosecution and in fact, very few convictions and there are several reasons for that.

‘The most notorious of which are the delays in our administration of justice system mainly caused, sometimes by lawyers whose defence strategy is delayed.

‘Often judges have indulged these tactics by not taking firm control of their courts. A witness in a case being cross examined for over a month.

‘An important lesson for any society that is fighting systemic corruption, is that corruption will fight back viciously, using every means possible, and sometimes, using the very constitutions that are created to fight it.

‘We have experienced and continued to experience that but the antidote is single minded commitment.

‘And I must say that we are permitted to ensure that we will continue to fight against corruption despite whatever obstacles involved,’ Osinbajo stated.

This post first appeared on NEWSROOM.