Pursuit Of Mandate: NCA Commends EFCC On Professionalism
The Director General of the National Crime Agency (NCA), United Kingdom, Mr. Graeme Biggar has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on its professionalism in the pursuit of its mandate in Nigeria.
He gave the commendation in Abuja on Thursday, May 9, 2024 when he led a delegation of the UK’s anti-crime Agency on a working visit to the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the corporate headquarters of the Commission.
According to him, the NCA has the longest standing and deepest relationship with the EFCC, stressing that the professionalism of the Commission is commendable.
“We a have a long standing relationship with EFCC in Nigeria. It is important for us to support you in the fight against corruption and asset recovery. I am here to deepen our cooperation. We really appreciate the relationship we have with your organization and the professionalism of your officers,” he said.
He called for the deepening of his Agency’s relationship with the EFCC, maintaining that “we are ready to take the relationship deeper”.
He expressed concerns about the activities of fraudsters, especially those stealing life savings of other people and those engaging in sextortion. “ It is important we continue the strong relationship existing between us for us to tackle those fraudulent dealings together”, he said.
Responding, Olukoyede stated that the EFCC hugely values the relationship it has with NCA, noting that the good working relationship between Nigeria and the UK reaches way back in time.
“We place much premium on the relationship that exists between Nigeria and the UK. It dates back in time and particularly between the EFCC and the NCA.
Our relationship has been mutually beneficial. We have had cause to collaborate on so many cases. I want to thank you for extending that hand of collaboration to us. We also want to specifically thank you for some of the support you have brought in the area of manpower development, training for some of our operatives and also the support you have given our digital forensic laboratory”.
“We are also looking for more mutually beneficial relationships and more support. The world is a global village. Sometimes what we have, you don’t have and what you have, we don’t have. We place much premium on exchange of ideas and compare notes where necessary. We are also looking at issues where you can be of support from your jurisdiction”, he said.
Olukoyede stressed that the global contagion of corruption, economic and financial crimes have made trans-national collaboration more compelling.
“Most of the crimes we investigate, particularly the non-violent, white collar crimes have assumed global dimension and this is why it is important for countries like Nigeria and the UK to collaborate,” he said.
On the new policy direction of the Commission, the EFCC boss stated that, over time he has realized that preventive frameworks in tackling corruption offer more results than any other modalities.
“On my part I assumed office about six months ago. Upon my assumption, I tried to effect a few changes in the processes and ways we do things, particularly in the area of the rule of law and due observance of processes.
“I sat with my team and we agreed to go to the root cause of corruption. We tried to figure out, rather than wait for the problem to occur, what can we do to prevent it? We have gone into the area of prevention. I have just established a whole Directorate that deals with prevention and control”, he said.
The new Directorate, he says, will be looking at the activities of all our ministries, departments and agencies in the areas of contract award and procurement processes.
“And we need the support of the NCA in this area and in other areas as well”, he said.
OLUKOYEDE TASKS CSOS ON STRONGER SYNERGY WITH EFCC IN FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, across the country to strengthen their existing relationships with the Commission in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
The Chairman stated this during an interactive session with members of CSOs in Edo State at the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission.
The Chairman who spoke through Ag. Zonal Director, ACE I Effa Imoh Okim, noted that CSOs were pivotal in combating the menace of corruption in Nigeria. “Let’s work together in tackling the menace of corruption. I want us to build on our existing relationships. I can’t be everywhere but you are everywhere. Our first choice is prevention and that is where the CSOs come in. You have the reach and the spread, so you can take the message to the people out there, especially young people on the consequences of engaging in internet fraud and other forms of criminality”, he said.
Corruption, he noted, has been the bane of our development, challenging CSOs to become whistle blowers and intelligence gatherers in the fight against corruption. “We need you to give us authentic information and to eliminate deceit from our collaboration.”
In his response, Kelly Osunbor, President, Faculty of Peace assured the Ag Zonal Director of their willingness to support the Commission in the attainment of its mandate. “Nigeria is our country, it’s our home, so we will work with you in your quest to build a better country.” The same view was shared by Leftist Austine Enabulele, Interim Chair, Edo Civil Society Organisations.
Source: efcc.gov.ng
