Magu Seeks UAE’s Cooperation On Looted Funds, Extradition Of Indicted Officials

EFCC-UAEActing Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, yesterday sought the support of the United Arab Emirates in tracking looted funds and repatriating corrupt persons taking refuge in that country.

Magu hinged his call for support on intelligence available to the EFCC that the UAE was considered a safe haven by Nigerian corrupt politicians.

The EFCC boss made the comment when he met with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Nigeria, Mahmud Muhammad Al- Mahmud, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The session came barely two weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari signed a Mutual Legal Assistance agreement with UAE on the repatriation of stolen funds and extradition of indicted officials.

A statement by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Mr. Wilson Uwujaren quoted Magu as saying:  “The fight against graft requires the support of all, most especially the international community.

“I have come to seek your support and cooperation just as we had in the case of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, James Ibori, among others, to get the mission accomplished”.

The acting EFCC chairman said the Federal Government was poised to recover the nation’s commonwealth looted and laundered in foreign countries just as he stressed the need to strengthen existing relationship between Nigeria and UAE with a view to tackle corruption in Africa.

On his part, Al-Mahmud pledged that his country would support Nigeria’s anti-graft war.

He said:  “No country can be an island without the support of others”.

Nigeria and the UAE signed six agreements to enhance bilateral relations between them on the sidelines of the 2016 World Future Energy Summit, which held in Abu Dhabi.