EFCC cells should have ‘presidential wing’ for corrupt past leaders - Soyinka- Professor Wole Soyinka has suggested that the EFCC cells should have presidential wing for corrupt Nigeria's past leaders - He said until some of country's past leaders were made to walk through the doors of the EFCC new office, fight against corruption would be incomplete - The acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, however, said the commission is an egalitarian organisation that treats people equally Nobel literature laureate, Wole Soyinka, has said that for the fight against corruption in Nigeria to succeed, the frontline anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would have to take on some of the country’s former leaders. Premium Times reports that he said until some of country's past leaders were made to walk through the doors of the EFCC new office, the fight against corruption would not have the needed traction. READ ALSO: Armed bandits kidnap 87 passengers along Kaduna highway Legit.ng gathered that Soyinka spoke on Monday, May 14, at the opening of a meeting of heads of anti-corruption agencies from Commonwealth Africa which opens in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. Soyinka said he was at the new office building of anti-corruption agency at the weekend, “to see what will be the modest hospitality” for suspects. The renowned writer 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 peoples equally,” he said to chuckles from the audience. Soyinka said all the money stolen by former Head of State Sani Abacha should be fully recovered. He recalled making similar request at a Commonwealth meeting during the reign of Abacha over some monies alleged to be shared as bribes to some leaders for the military leader to remain in power. The Nobel laureate particularly made reference to a leader of a neighbouring country who, he alleged, collected millions for the purpose. He urged the EFCC leadership and heads of other anti-corruption agencies attending the meeting to help repatriate the money for Nigeria. 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. He said President Muhammadu Buhari has kept faith with his promise not to interfere with the operations of the anti-corruption agencies in the country. However, Magu stressed that “the most valuable support you need to do this job is that of the masses admixed with the political will at the very top.” He said the meeting would avail the anti-corruption chiefs the opportunity to share experiences and forge alliances that could subdue “bureaucratic bottlenecks and red tapes” in terms of cooperation. He said the anti-corruption agencies need to fraternise more closely because “the criminals who collectively supply our raison d’etre have absolutely no qualms forging such cross-border operational alliances to perpetrate crimes and cover their tracks.” The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, also picked on the point of cross-border collaboration as basis for the conference. She said the Commonwealth Secretariat takes the issue of tackling corruption seriously because of the level of squalor and deprivation on account of corruption globally. Quoting figures from the United Nations Office on Drug.s and Crimes (UNODC), Scotland said Africa loses $148 billion per annum to corruption. She therefore called for closer collaboration and peer reviews among African and other Commonwealth countries to tackle the problem. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos zonal office, arrested 13 suspected Internet fraudsters for conspiracy, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining money under false pretence. The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Professor Wole Soyinka has suggested that the EFCC cells should have presidential wing for corrupt Nigeria's past leaders - He said until some of country's past leaders were made to walk through the doors of the EFCC new office, fight against corruption would be incomplete - The acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, however, said the commission is an egalitarian organisation that treats people equally READ ALSO: Legit.ng PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng