Former Chief Security Officer to Sani Abacha, the late military dictator, Hamza Al-Mustapha has said he is not corrupt and knew nothing about ‘Abacha Loot’.
Al-Mustapha said this on Wednesday in Kaduna while addressing the Christian community, under the auspices of Eagle Eye Forum, 40 Christian pressure groups and United Christian Leaders.
He explained that the fact that he served under Abacha does not mean that he is corrupt.
But when asked to comment on ‘Abacha Loot’, Al-Mustapha said he knows nothing about the looting.
“The fact that some of the Nigerian leaders were corrupt does not mean that everyone that serve in government is a thief. Some of us can stand and challenge any institution or individual any day any time,” he said.
“Stealing is not what you require, but its service to the nation that matters. Any money that you steal not to render service to the people makes the owner an illiterate, visionless storekeeper.”
He also accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of chasing shadow instead of fighting corruption.
“EFCC came overnight with few equipment and personnel and started making the loudest noise; that is why I have likened it to a small monkey given a thread to arrest an elephant,” he said.
“The monkey is always busy looking for the elephant. It was given binoculars to look for an elephant that is so close to it, but it is busy arresting ants and abandoned the elephant that is busy destroying the animal kingdom. That is what is going on today.
“If you have to fight corruption in Nigeria, you have to tackle from multi-faceted angles, rather than this small structure called the EFCC that is not enough to fight corruption.
“It requires a bigger body that has the intelligence that can reach out to the international community to get our stolen funds stashed abroad and equally prosecute rather than relying on the regular police to do that.”
Al-Mustapha also spoke on the security situation in the country and called for the reintroduction of toll gates, which he described as an effective buffer of uncovering illegal weapons and movement of criminals.
He also called for the overhaul of the Police Act to strengthen policing at the local level in the country.
Al-Mustapha particularly said local government councils must be allowed to work effectively, so as to tackle local challenges including security.
He gave indication that he is interested in contesting the 2019 presidential election.
“I am not going to announce myself contesting for a presidential seat, but if people say so that, is the wishes of the people,” he said.
”I am not a power tasty person, if I am, I would have lost my personality long before now, but when people gather to speak and the decision is by them, then it is a call to serve.”
