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Presidential Committee Accuses EFCC Of Frustrating Efforts

The presidential ad-hoc committee set up to reposition the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and restore the nation’s membership of the Egmont Group of Financial … Continue reading Presidential Committee Accuses EFCC Of Frustrating Efforts


Presidential Committee Accuses EFCC Of Frustrating Efforts
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The presidential ad-hoc committee set up to reposition the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and restore the nation’s membership of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Unit has cried out over the frustration of its efforts.

The committee accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of blackmailing the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Justice with allegations of impeding the government’s anti-corruption drive.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Attorney General of the Federation, Salihu Othman Isah.

They said, “There are several other documents detailing the commitment of the AGF and the Federal Ministry of Justice to ensure that Nigeria is fully ratified as a bona fide member of the Egmont Group and other international anti-graft bodies in line with President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s effort to combat all corruption and other forms of crimes.

“However, it is a sad tale to tell how the Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu-led EFCC has frustrated these efforts and even had to resort to blackmail in some instances oftentimes, alleging that the AGF and the Ministry were all out to impede the government’s anti-corruption drive.

“Magu and other EFCC officials, and a times through online publications, had at one time or the other accused the Minister of trying to compromise the war. They have always perceived the Office of AGF as a threat instead of addressing the issues related to the best strategy to fight corruption advocated by the AGF.”

The committee was set up by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, following the recent sanction on Nigeria by the global body for allegedly flouting its rules and regulations.

They, however, said, “The suspension of Nigeria from the Egmont Group of National Financial Intelligence Units at its July 2017 meeting in China with a threat of an expulsion in January 2018, if Nigeria did not meet the standards of the Group with regards to its operations, has dire consequences for Nigeria on many fronts.”

The Senate had in July passed a bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIA), an action which analysts said would strip the EFCC of its powers to prosecute financial crime offenders.

Complementing the move, the committee noted that the NFIU must to stand alone as an agency with full complements of power to recruit its staff, in order to achieve the desired goal.

“Its independence must be ascertained in the new law to set up the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIA) to enable it carry out its mandate which shall include responsibilities for receiving, requesting, analysing and disseminating financial intelligence reports on money laundering, terrorist financing and other relevant information to law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies, and other relevant authorities.”

The committee is headed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi.

It is expected to recommend and facilitate legal and regulatory measures to ensure the financial and operational autonomy of the NFIU.

The committee is also expected to submit its report by August 31.