The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is
infuriated about properties in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United
Kingdom (UK) purchased by corrupt Nigerians.
On Wednesday, the Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, hinted that
the commission will go after such assets.
Bawa spoke while receiving a document from a coalition of
Nigerian Civil Society Organizations led by the Human and Environmental
Development Agenda (HEDA).
Olanrewaju Suraj, HEDA Chairman, presented the ‘Fixing
Nigeria’s Illicit Financial Flows’ report compiled by Professor Gbenga Oduntan
of Kent University.
Bawa charged citizens to be vigilant and play their part in
checking the illicit flow of the nation’s resources out of the country.
“It is one thing for properties to be taken to the UAE and
the UK, it is another thing that we ensure that you don’t have the opportunity
to take them out in the first instance,” he stated.
Bawa promised a more proactive approach to law enforcement
and the fight against corruption.
The financial watchdog chief explained that part of EFCC’s
mandate is to ensure that proceeds of crime are identified and repatriated.
“It is not an easy task. UK, UAE have their laws and procedures,
but we have agreements that we are signatories to, to discuss issues of
information sharing, investigation as well as repatriation of ill-gotten
assets,” he added.
Bawa, however, reacted to the controversy his statement on
assets declaration by bankers generated.
He reminded critics that the EFCC has the power to demand
asset declaration forms of Nigerians in both private and public sectors.
“EFCC said look, come June 1, we will be demanding for
copies of bankers’ asset forms. We never said come and declare to us. We have
studied the law, we have the power,” he noted.
Bawa stated that corrupt persons and organisations taking
funds out of Nigeria were not perpetrating illegality alone.
“The are conspirators; engineers, professionals, accountants
and financial institutions are helping them”, he added.
The Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) said
bankers should not be afraid of revealing their assets if they had nothing to
hide.
The organization accused financial institutions and their
officials of aiding and abetting criminals.
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