Press Release
The
Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim
Lamorde, has called for the support and cooperation of Nigerians in the fight
against corruption, stating that “the job of fighting corruption should not be
left only to statutory organisations”.
He
stated that the Commission had been deploying the social media platforms to
reach the public, adding that the fight against corruption could not be fought
only by traditional model of public enlightenment.
He spoke
on Tuesday, December 9, at this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day
organised by Inter-Agency Task Team, IATT, at the National Centre for Women
Development, Abuja, with the theme: “Break the Corruption Chain”.
December
9, every year, has been set aside globally to raise awareness and restate
commitment to the fight against corruption.
The
anti-graft Czar further stated that the Commission had developed a
state-of-the-art forensic laboratory which deals with all types of analysis in
the fight against corruption.
“We have
trained a lot of analysts and financial crimes investigators who specialize in
modern techniques of identifying frauds,” he said.
Also
speaking, Mr. Ledum Mitee, chairman of Inter-Agency Task Team, IATT, emphasized
the need to empower the anti-corruption institutions with the necessary
resources to confront corruption.
Citing
the Jakarta Principles for Anti-Corruption, which include remuneration,
authority over human resources, adequate and reliable resources as well as
financial autonomy, he expressed doubt that the anti-corruption agencies in
Nigeria meet the standards.
According
to him, if Nigeria was to make significant progress on developmental issues, it
must break the corruption chain so as to reduce corruption to the
minimum.
He also
called for the effective implementation of laws at all levels of governance
without fear or favour. “Not only must there be no sacred cows and the culture
of impunity wiped out, but the replication of anti-corruption measures and
institutions at the sub-national levels must be seen as a priority,” he said.
Bala
Sanga, representative from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, emphasized that corruption had the capability to lead to weak governance,
which in turn could fuel organised crimes, including human trafficking, money
laundering, terrorism and other forms of criminality.
Sanga,
while pledging the support of UNODC to eliminate corruption, added that the
UNODC had just started the implementation of 34.5 million Euro project funded by
the European Union to assist anti-corruption agencies, the police, the
judiciary and civil society organizations.
Mr.
Obunike Olaegbu of Public Complaints Commission advised the EFCC, ICPC and
other anti-corruption agencies to do more in the area of enlightenment
and sensitization of the public on the ills of corruption.
Also,
Mr. Kolade Omoyola, representative from the Code of Conduct Bureau, urged
Nigerians to declare their assets, stating that the Bureau was doing its best
to break the chain of corruption through Public enlightenment.
Mr Chidi
Odinkalu, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, who gave the key
note address, charged leaders who are nonchalant about fighting corruption to
have a rethink.
“I don’t
congratulate people on erecting buildings, but I ask what they have done to
build our values,” he said.
The
highlight of the commemorative event was the unveiling of the Inter-faith Anti-
Corruption Manuals, which are a teaching aid for both Christians and Muslims.
In
his remark titled “We Can Fight Corruption with Religion”, Lamorde said: “The
public unveiling of the Inter-faith Manuals is only one stage in a long process
that also includes the training of those who are expected to put it to use-the
faith leaders, women and youths. Along with the committee, the Commission will
organise workshops in the six geo-political zones, using the manuals to build
relevant local capacity critical for an effective war on corruption.”
Other
agencies represented at the event were Nigeria Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Technical Unit on
Governance and Anti Corruption Reform and Independent Corrupt Practices
Commission, among others.
In
attendance were top personalities, including the Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Aawal
Ibrahim, Chairman of IAAC, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede and ArchBishop John Praise
Danile, Secretary, IAAC, among others.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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