INVESTIGATION: HOW EFCC PLANS TO HIJACK NFIC
Joseph Kingston
Following its failed attempts to stop the passage of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Center-NFIC Bill by the National Assembly, facts have emerged on how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission-EFCC plans to hijack the yet to be created Center.
Investigations revealed that the present leadership of the Commission has not given up the fight on their desire to control the NFIC.
Impeccable sources within the Commission revealed that one of the strategies is for the Commission to sponsor a stooge to take over the leadership of the proposed Center.
In perfection of this, the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde allegedly submitted a letter of recommendation to the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mr. Bello Adoke, in favour of the immediate past Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye to serve as Director General of the proposed Center.
The recommendation letter is said to have been processed and transmitted to the President for consideration.
Reacting to the development, Head of enlightenment of the Civil Society Coalition against corruption in Nigeria, Garuba Mohammed described it as a huge joke with severe consequences.
“This is a huge joke. We shall resist it with the last drop of our blood. This criminality must stop. The consequences of this shall be very severe. These are the same people that never wanted the Center; the same EFCC that insisted that it was not necessary; the same people that have made mockery of Nigeria's anti-corruption war are also positioning to hijack the Center; just to ensure that the anti-corruption, anti-money –laundering and anti-terrorism –financing war in Nigeria is frustrated further because they are benefiting from the rot. EFCC has something to hide. They do not want a credible person to come and expose them. Akomaye is not an option for NFIC at all. ”
Continuing, he warned that the Civil Society Coalition, in collaboration with other stakeholders shall stop at nothing in ensuring that credible people are appointed to manage the proposed Center.
He further described the move by the EFCC as mischievous and criminal, warning the Federal Government to beware of the antics of the present EFCC leadership and their cronies.
He further assured that the Civil Society in Nigeria is presently scrutinizing candidates, with the view to identifying a credible person for possible recommendation to the President.
It would be recalled that both the upper and lower chambers of the National Assembly have passed the Bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Center, now awaiting the President's assent.
Nigeria's present security challenges and the international community expectations make it imperative for the country to appoint a credible person to head the Center.