The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), said it has made significant progress in eradicating economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.
The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, made this statement on Thursday in Maiduguri when he opened a workshop on Economic and Financial Crimes Reporting for Journalists in the area.
Bawa asserted that the EFCC could do more to expose corruption with media cooperation. Bawa was represented by the EFCC Maiduguri Zonal Commander, Mr. Oshodi Johnson.
“No agency in Nigeria can boast of the record of EFCC in these areas but I am confident that with the support of the media, more can still be achieved,” he said.
He said the workshop was aimed at educating journalists across the country on their importance in the fight against corruption and economic crimes.
Bawa said the workshop was expected to build synergy between the media and the commission in the fight against corruption.
‘’The papers to be presented in the workshop were specifically to draw the attention of journalists to areas of concern in the fight against corruption, particularly money laundering and terrorism financing.
“Part of our objective today is to acquaint you with the important provisions of these laws and how they can be applied to check money laundering activities and financing of terrorism; we are in a region that has borne the brunt of terrorism activities.
“The question which many of us have asked and which should engage our minds today is who are the financiers of the various terrorist groups,” he said.
Bawa said the commission had successfully prosecuted a prominent woman in Maiduguri for using her Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for fraudulent purposes.
‘’The woman known as Mama Boko Haram was convicted for using her NGO for fraudulent purposes, the ordeal in the North East must not be allowed to be exploited for pecuniary gains.
‘’Journalists have duties to investigate whether an NGO operating in the North East has complied with relevant laws,’’ he said.
Papers presented at the workshop include the New Money Laundering Framework: Duties and Responsibilities”, “Investigative Journalism and Nigeria’s Fight Against Money Laundering” and “Digital Payment System: Emerging Opportunities for Fraud and Prevention Tips for Victims.”