Al-Mustapha denies knowledge of Abacha loot

Hamza Al-Mustapha, former chief security officer to the late Sani Abacha has denied any knowledge of loot associated to his ex-boss.

He was speaking in Kaduna on Wednesday during an interactive session with the Christian community, under the auspices of United Christian Leaders, Eagle Eye Forum and 40 Christian pressure groups.

He said the fact that he served under Abacha does not mean that he is corrupt.

“The fact that some of 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.

“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, vision less store keeper,” he said.

He also said he doubted the effectiveness of the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Saying the EFCC has small structure, he 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.”