Afrigather 
Govt Chairman of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, says the large sums of cash recovered by the anti-graft physique are being deployed for completion of main tasks within the nation.
He acknowledged this on Thursday, March 30, 2023, throughout an engagement between the Fee and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, held on the company headquarters of the Fee, Abuja.
The EFCC boss charged Civil Society Organisations to strengthen collaboration with anti-graft businesses stressing that, with their closeness to the grassroots they’re nicely positioned to help the Fee with info that may improve the combat in opposition to corruption in Nigeria.
. He stated such collaboration was crucial because the combat in opposition to corruption was not for the EFCC solely.
The EFCC boss disclosed that funds recovered by the Fee are being deployed for the completion of some essential infrastructures within the nation, together with the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kano Expressway, in addition to the development of the second Niger Bridge.
In response to him, “EFCC was the primary organisation to adjust to the Proceeds of Crime (Restoration and Administration) Act, 2022 that mandates related businesses to open Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account in naira, greenback, pound sterling and the euro.”
“In a single swoop, we transferred N110billion, $29million, €6.6million and £1.3 million, and His Excellency, President and Commander- in Chief of the Armed Forces instructed that each one the monies be transferred to the Presidential Infrastructural Growth Initiative to finish the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kano Expressway, in addition to the second Niger bridge. This morning, I learnt we transferred a further N32 billion in that account which can also be going for use for that objective.”
The anti-corruption czar says that with the Cash Laundering( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the location of the Particular Management Unit in opposition to Cash Laundering, SCUML, within the EFCC, which boosts the Fee’s energy to observe, register and regulate Non-designated Monetary Establishments, Companies and Professions, DNFIBPs, stealing from public treasury will develop into troublesome as a result of all of the avenues for leakages shall be blocked.
Talking on the EFCC’s 2022 conviction report, Bawa disclosed that the Fee secured 3,785 convictions and misplaced solely 41 circumstances, stressing that the determine represents a 98.2% success charge in court docket.
In his personal comment, Govt Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani questioned the place Nigeria would have been, with out the EFCC and CSOs. He recommended the Fee’s involvement within the just-concluded basic elections, stressing that with out the EFCC’s involvement, commercialization of votes would have been too brazen and unmanageable. .
Secretary to the Fee, Dr. George Ekpungu appreciated CSOs for supporting the EFCC within the combat in opposition to corruption and sued for extra involvement within the campaign.
Additionally, in a associated occasion in Lagos Bawa referred to as on CSOs to be constructive in criticising the actions of anti-graft businesses within the nation.
He gave the cost in a remarks in the course of the anti-corruption stakeholders summit themed “ Assessing The Struggle Towards Corruption Beneath President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration( 2015-2023)” organised by the Human Environmental Growth Agenda, HEDA, Useful resource Centre in Ikeja, Lagos.
Bawa, who spoke by means of the Lagos Zonal Commander of EFCC, Tongnwan M. Wetkas, stated although the Fee was not averse to criticisms, it have to be constructive in nature.
He stated: “We welcome constructive criticisms. If you end up criticizing us constructively, you’re constructing a society; you’re telling us to do issues in a greater approach; and ultimately, you’re including worth to the society.
“We respect what you do, however I urge you to do it constructively. Assist us to investigate points very nicely; all the time have your info and figures; make sure you attain out to us whenever you want info, and we are going to give it to you”.
The EFCC Chair, nonetheless, expressed his satisfaction over the roles being performed by the CSOs, describing them as “patriots.”
In response to him, “You might be people who find themselves involved concerning the progress and stability of the nation. You’re employed tirelessly on behalf of others. Whereas these of us are paid to do what we do, you deem it match yourselves to do what you do for the progress of the society.”
Olarenwaju Suraj, Chairman, HEDA, emphasised the necessity for CSOs and different stakeholders to make sure that the incoming administration prioritizes the anti-graft warfare.
Suraj, who spoke to the members by way of Zoom, stated: “ As this authorities is winding down, it’s incumbent on us and different stakeholders to make sure that the combat in opposition to corruption is on the entrance burner of the incoming authorities.
“This isn’t nearly insurance policies or political statements, but additionally concerning the independence of the anti-corruption businesses.
“On this sensible, a time period that has been confirmed by the Senate, for no matter it’s, have to be allowed to expire earlier than the removing of the top of an anti-graft company.
“This is the reason I’m additionally completely happy that the Nationwide Meeting is within the technique of the modification of the EFCC Act to make sure that the EFCC Chairman enjoys the identical type of safety because the Chairman of both the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB or Unbiased Corrupt Practices and Different Fraud Associated Offences Fee, ICPC.”
