The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde has reiterated the resolve of the Commission to partner with the civil society in the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country.
Lamorde made the assertion on November
26, 2014 at the EFCC Academy, Karu where the Commission signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with a network of civil societies across the country, which
effectively marks a re-launch of its anti-corruption programme, formerly known
as Anti-Corruption Revolution Campaign, ANCOR.
While noting that ANCOR which was
launched in December 2008 provided a platform for engagement of diverse citizen
groups to key in and imbibe such positive virtues like probity, integrity,
modesty, etc, necessary for positive national change, Lamorde however regretted
that the programme was bedeviled with several challenges.
“There were for instance, cases of
outright abuse of the programme by some of the members who fraudulently
procured vehicles, sewed their own uniforms, opened their own offices where
they received and investigated petitions, interrogated ‘suspects’, and
extorting innocent members of the public. The Commission is currently
prosecuting some of such unscrupulous for members of ANCOR,” he stated.
The new body that has now emerged
from the ashes of the ANCOR is: Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Support
Network (ACE-Network).
Pledging total commitment to the
MoU, the EFCC boss said the Commission believes community and public power are
the most effective catalysts for initiation and sustenance of the much needed
ethical reforms in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, the
Chairman of Network of Civil Society in Nigeria, Suraj Olanrewaju who described
the occasion as epoch making, said the MoU was not just between the Commission
and civil societies, but should involve the Nigerian government and its people.
“There is a concern about the
situation of corruption in Nigeria, the effect on our image among the
international community is enormous and so, the fight against corruption is
beyond EFCC and government.”
He stressed that the MoU is a
critical independent engagement that will challenge both the EFCC and CSOs to
hold each other accountable by monitoring themselves and exchanging positive
criticisms.
Speaking also at the occasion, a
representative of the World Bank Country Representative in Nigeria, Roland
Lomme, said his organization is a critical partner in the fight against
corruption because of its belief that corruption has a direct effect on
development. He lauded the MoU, saying such interaction and collaboration was
necessary for meaningful result in the fight against corruption.
“We wish you luck and are keen on
seeing practical result emanating from this engagement,” he said.
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