Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it recovered 60.9billion naira monetary fraud in the last 100days.
This was disclosed during a dialogue on Youth, Religion and Fight against Corruption, and launch of Interfaith Manual and Fraud Risk Assessment Project, on Wednesday, at Shehu Yar’adua Centre, Abuja.
The executive chairman of EFCC Ola in his opening remarks stated that the commission has been effective in the deployment of enforcement powers in tackling various forms of financial crimes, including grand corruption and cybercrimes, affirming that the commission’s conviction profile and record of asset recovery, is unmatched by any other agency.
He however disclosed that “rather than abate, these crimes appear to have festered, suggesting that a change of approach might be imperative.”
He said, the realization demanded a reconsideration of the Commission’s anti-graft strategy with a new focus on prevention.
“This is the motivation for bringing leading figures from the academia and the clergy for this unique robbing of minds. We are persuaded that religious leaders and institutions can offer help as a sounding board of integrity and transparency.”
Olukoyede added that the commission’s belief in the potential of faith in anti-corruption led the Commission to develop the Interfaith Manual, a preaching and teaching guide for Christians and Muslims.
While noting that the Anti graft agency has developed a tool intended, Fraud Risk Assessment Project, to prevent corruption in Ministries, Department and Agencies, the Executive Chairman emphasized that the tool is meant to assist government agencies to address systemic vulnerabilities at the personnel, institutional and environmental levels, and take preemptive measures.
Olukoyede commended the President for his support to the fight against corruption in Nigeria, adding that with the political will of the administration, the commission has the opportunity to rewrite the story of the nation’s quest for improved transparency and accountability in public affairs.
The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by his vice, Kashem Shettima in his speech applauded the EFCC for its consistent efforts in tackling the menace of corruption, particularly the disturbing contagion of cybercrimes, which according to him, has been a challenge on the image of Nigeria as a nation.
“The EFCC, by its unsparing onslaught on the fraudsters, has given the rest of the world huge assurance that we are neither complicit nor complacent in confronting the menace.
“Our country is not a nation of fraudsters and the pejorative reference to internet crimes as the “Nigerian scam” across the world is unfair, untenable and unacceptable,” he said.
READ ALSO:
EFCC uncovers religious body laundering money for terrorists, traces N7bn to another
He assured the agency that the government will continue to offer its support in its quest to kill the dragon that internet offences have become.
“As a government, we are resolute and determined that corruption should not be allowed any space in our polity. We cannot be focused on growth and development and at the same time offer any breathing space to corrupt practices in any form.
“The EFCC has been duly instructed to do its job at all times without any extraneous considerations because the Renewed Hope agenda of our government is impervious to corruption. We should all join hands together to move Nigeria in a new direction of purpose.”
In their separate goodwill messages, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, stated that the event is in furtherance of a significant mandate of EFCC, which is to deter corruption by adopting cor-ordinated preventive measures, introducing investigative and control techniques to prevent economic and financial related crimes and carrying out sustainable rigorous public enlightenment campaign against economic and financial crimes.
“I am very pleased to be part of the history we are making today in this 3in1 event wherein all critical stake holders in the fight against corruption will be having an honest engagement and critical discussion on the roles of youths and religion in the fight against against corruption, as well as the launch of both the interfaith preaching and teaching manual developed by the Interfaith Anti-corruption Advisory Committee, IACC, and the Commission’s Fraud Risk Assessment Prevention and Control Project for Ministries, Departments and Agencies,,MDAs.”
He disclosed that the statistic from worldometers.info as at January 24th 2024, puts the current population at two hundred and twenty-six million, eight hundred and ninety eight thousand, six hundred and thirty nine, with the youth accounting for 70% of the said population.
“This shows that the fight against economic and financial crimes will receive unprecedented boost if we take advantage of the teeming useful youth population,” he noted.
He equally emphasized on the use of religious organizations as an “indespensable partner”, in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
“It is not in doubt that religion serve as an agent of social control of behavior and motivates people to work for perspective change. It should therefore not be heard that a religious organization, leader of follower is involved directly or indirectly in any activity that will negatively affect the society.”
While noting that that the President is determined to collaborate with all the critical stakeholders in tackling corruption using multi-dimensional approach of prevention of crimes as well as effective investigation and prosecution of offenders, Fagbemi urged religious leaders and youths to take ownership of the fight against corruption and to collaborate with the EFCC in combating crimes and sundry offences.
Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, led a panel discussion featuring five panelists bothering on the role of youth and religious faiths in the fight against corruption.
Credible news.ng
