EFCC gets international backing in war against corruption
- The good work of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not going unnoticed
- The Inter-Governmental Action against Money Laundering in West Africa has pledged support for the EFCC
- Their aim is to assist Nigeria get its suspension from the Egmont Group lifted
The Inter-Governmental Action against Money Laundering in West Africa has pledged support for efforts by the EFCC and the Nigerian government to ensure the lifting of the suspension of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from the Egmont Group in the shortest time possible.
The director-general of GIABA, Adama Coulibaly, made the pledge on Wednesday, September 27 when he lead a delegation on a courtesy visit to the acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, at the commission's headquarters in Abuja.
While commending the EFCC for championing the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria, Coulibaly said that the agency’s achievements were not only for the country, but for the African continent.
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According to him, the EFCC was a key player to GIABA, adding that “if this suspension is not lifted early, it is going to have a negative impact not only on Nigeria, but the West African region.”
“We are here to express our support to Nigeria on this noble objective of fighting corruption,” he added.
He used the opportunity to inform the EFCC management that Nigeria will host GIABA’s plenary between November 13 and 19, 2017.
Responding, EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, noted that the suspension of the NFIU from the Egmont Group was based on misinformation, by those who are hell-bent on handicapping the EFCC.
According to him, politicians are behind the NFIU crisis, “because they want to destroy the achievements recorded by the EFCC.”
He lamented that the move by the Nigerian parliament to take the NFIU out of the EFCC was suspicious and borne out of an ulterior motive.
“There is a complete misunderstanding about the workings of the NFIU, and it is surprising that the new bill by the legislators pushing for removal of the NFIU from the EFCC was passed in seven days,” he said.
Magu however stressed that the EFCC was not at loggerheads with the NFIU, stressing that their relationship is very cordial and professional.
He further noted that the African continent should consider the establishment of an association of African Financial Intelligence Units.
Meanwhile, the Liberian government's intention to implement beneficial ownership transparency in their country has been hailed by the Nigerian federal government.
The commendation was made by the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on justice reforms and coordinator of the Open Government Partnership in Nigeria, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku- Nwagwu.
Mrs Ibekaku-Nwagwu made the statement at a peer learning workshop in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, on beneficial ownership transparency under the auspices of the Open Government Partnership.
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Watch this Legit.ng TV video of a Nigerian man suggesting mass burial for Nigeria's corrupt past leaders:
Source: Legit.ng
