EFCC Boss Advocates Simplification of Procedures for Assets Recovery and Return
Nigeria today has called for the simplification of evidentiary requirements and other mutual legal assistance procedures to enhance international cooperation and facilitate the timely recovery and return of stolen assets.
Abdulrasheed Bawa, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, stated this while presenting Nigeria’s statement at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly Special Session on corruption in New York, United States of America. He said “Measures must be introduced to mitigate the continuous flow of illicit funds from least developed to developed countries”, that “State Parties must continue to commit to the timely return of illicit assets and ensure implementation of effective anti-money laundering measures by International Financial Centers”.
The Special Session which opened on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 is designed to examine measures to prevent and combat corruption and strengthen international cooperation, pursuant to the General Assembly resolutions 73/191 and 74/276 as well as decision 74/568, including the adoption of a set of action-oriented Political Declaration on corruption.
The Declaration which was agreed upon in advance through intergovernmental negotiation by State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC, covers the thematic areas of prevention, criminalization and law enforcement; assets recovery and international cooperation as well as cross-cutting issues like education and research, among others.
Addressing the Special Session today, Bawa said Nigeria acknowledges the very beneficial use of “settlements” or “non-trial resolutions” to ensure the disgorgement of illicit gains from corrupt acts. He called on Jurisdictions negotiating settlements to, “inform affected jurisdictions that a negotiation toward a settlement is taking place, and proactively share information on concluded settlements”.
The EFCC chair underlined the threats that corruption poses to the world.
“Corruption across national borders has huge negative impacts on the stability, peace, and economic prospects of millions, particularly in developing countries. Corruption remains one of the most pervasive and daunting challenges facing humanity. It deprives national Governments of resources needed for sustainable development and facilitates illicit financial flows (IFFs) from developing economies to developed Countries thus, weakening states’ ability to deliver developmental expectations targeted at women and youths.
“Nigeria, like many other countries, has suffered from the damaging effects of corruption. The Country has lost billions of dollars to foreign tax havens, stolen and expatriated by corrupt leaders and their foreign accomplices including multinational companies”.
He, however, noted that Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari had been upfront in its commitment to fighting corruption. He explained that aside from making the fight against corruption a key policy of the administration, the government developed a National Anti- Corruption Strategy as a framework for preventive and law enforcement engagement and introduced measures to mitigate revenue leakage, including a whistleblower policy which led to the recovery of $43million.
“Public corruption is being exposed by the day and several Politically Exposed Persons have been and are being prosecuted and divested of their illicit assets. We have been engaging with International Law Enforcement Agencies around the world and some of the collaboration has led to the recovery and repatriation of stolen funds including the recent return of 4.2million Pounds by the UK Government that was stolen from Nigeria by a former Governor.
“Procurement processes have been strengthened and activities of the Gate Keepers are being monitored through the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering to serve as deterrence to the stealing of public funds. Policies have been introduced to mitigate revenue leakages including the development of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS). The NACS is developed with 5 identified cardinal pillars on prevention, public engagement, ethical re-orientation, enforcement & sanctions and recovery & management of stolen assets/proceeds of crime. The strategy is aimed at providing a national road map in the fight against corruption,” he said.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s efforts in strengthening the legislative framework for anti-corruption in the country, including the launch of the 2021 Legislative Anti-Corruption Agenda (LACS 2021) which seeks to provide a clear road map for a reform-based legislative intervention to prevent and combat corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria. “Some of the bills before the Parliament include the Witness Protection Bill, Proceeds of Crime (POCA), Bill and Public Interest Disclosure and Complaints Commission Bill,” he added.
He concluded that Nigeria looks forward to the “full implementation of all the commitments expressed in the Political Declaration, particularly on Asset Recovery and return, to support development financing as well as the implementation of the agenda 2030 for sustainable development.”
Apart from presenting Nigeria’s statement, the EFCC boss participated in a number of side events, most of which held virtually..
CSOs Indispensable Stakeholders In Fight Against Graft- Efcc
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has reiterated the importance of collaboration in the fight against economic and financial crimes. The Kaduna Zonal Head of the Commission, Harry Erin stated this on Thursday, June 3, 2021 when a coalition of Civil Society Organization paid him a courtesy visit.
Erin appreciated the CSOs for their support over the years and urged them to continue to assist the Commission in educating their communities as indispensable stakeholders. “The Civil Society Organisations are indispensable stakeholders in any society that wants to fight crime and the EFCC cannot do everything alone. The CSOs mirrors what goes on in society especially at the grassroots level. Therefore, there is a need for the CSOs to help in educating and re-educating the people at the community level on the ills of corruption,” he said.
On his part, the Executive Director of Aid Foundation and the Coordinator of the CSOs in Kaduna, Emmanuel Bonet appreciated the EFCC for its endless support and partnership.
He called on the EFCC to create a platform that people can use to promote integrity at the community level which according to him “is the only way people will be able to hold government accountable.”
He further promised that civil society organizations will be willing to partner with the EFCC to educate the people more which according to him “not too many people know or understand what needs to be done to help in the fight against corruption in their communities.”
EFCC Charges Schools Integrity Club Members On Internet Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has urged students of St. Joseph Secondary School, Agege, and Government College Secondary School, Victoria Island, Lagos, who are members of the EFCC Integrity Clubs in the schools, to shun any involvement in internet fraud and embrace the culture of integrity, a core value of the Commission.
Speaking to members of the EFCC/Secondary School Integrity Club members on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, the Lagos Zonal Head, Ahmed Ghali, admonished the students to always do the right thing at all times.
Ghali, who was represented by his deputy and Head of Procurement Fraud Session, PFS, Emeka Okonjo, expressed delight at the presence of the integrity club members, who were led by their coordinators, Achilefu Ikechukwu and Latifah Abdullahi to the EFCC Lagos Zonal Office.
He advised them to shun anyone that says easy money is the way out, adding that they must inculcate good morals and values that could help better their lives and the country as a whole.
In his remarks, the Head of Advance Fee Fraud, Sini John Omar who enlightened the students on the positive side and numerous advantages of the internet, also educated them on the importance of putting the Internet into the right use.
Omar, who stated that the internet could be used for education and research purposes, online banking and purchase of products, added that “as convenient as the internet may be, it can also be a tool for destruction and fraudulent practices.”
Also speaking, Dein Whyte, Head, Cyber Crime Section, educated the students on the possible dangers and disadvantages of the internet.
According to him, the internet could be used to defraud people if adequate security measures were not taken.
He, therefore, admonished them to watch the company they keep, adding that bad communications could corrupt good morals.
While providing the students with hints on how to avoid being defrauded, Whyte stressed the need for them to protect their passwords and not get carried away by what they see on the internet.
“The things you see on the internet are mostly for likes and attention and do not depict dignity on how they were acquired.
They are often fake and not the reality.
‘’You are on the right path because you have a good foundation and you have no choice but to build on it and develop yourselves. You must also contribute your quota towards making Nigeria a better place,” he added.
The students presented a talk show and also a short play on the activities of the EFCC as well as the challenges faced by the Commission.
The high point of the event was the presentation of an award to the Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, for the good work of the Commission.
Source: Media & Publicity
