The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, collaborated with the International Police, INTERPOL with a view to tackling corruption in Nigeria.
In a statement by the acting Head, Media & Publicity of the commission, Tony Orilade, disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, was signed in that direction between the two parties
According to Mr Orilade, the MoU, I-24/7, is a global police communications system that connects law enforcement officers in all member countries.
“It enables users share sensitive and urgent police information with their counterparts around the globe, 24 hours a day, and 365 days a year,” he pointed out.
The statement noted that while receiving the delegations led by Commissioner of Police, Shola Subair, CP INTERPOL, in Abuja, the Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, expressed his appreciation for the initiative.
According to Mr Magu, the initiative would go a long way in checkmating the activities of fraudsters across the globe and Nigeria in particular.
He noted that the MoU would further create a greater technical team work and allow the EFCC to be connected to the 194 member countries of the organisation.
He stressed the need for EFCC staff to be seconded to the Interpol. He used the opportunity to explain how the Data base can be used in tracing the movement of looters in an out of the country and also how this collaboration will give EFCC access to the 194 member countries of the Interpol.
“All sort of criminality is taking place and looters are everywhere, now that the EFCC is going for extradition of looters outside the country, there is no better time than now, EFCC will use it opportunity judiciously,” Mr Magu said, adding that the MoU will strengthen the EFCC’s efforts in areas of monitoring illegal assets.
He further added that, with the elections fast approaching, “the EFCC is on the watch out. We would not fold our hands and allow people move illicit funds indiscriminately in the name of vote buying. Nigeria is blessed with both human and natural resources. It is high time the generality of Nigerians get rewarded for God given natural resources that are about”.
Mr Subair, who led the delegation, stressed the importance of the INTERPOL, EFCC partnership, as it would further strengthen the anti-corruption efforts of the anti-graft agency.
He said: “INTERPOL provides a wide range of policing expertise and capabilities, supporting three main crime programmes: Counter-terrorism, Cybercrime, Organized and Emerging Crimes. We are mobilising for the enlistment of all law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, and we consider to kick start the assignment at the EFCC.”
The INTERPOL delegation was received by the newly appointed Secretary of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede; Dr. David Tukura, Commandant, EFCC Academy and Osita Nwajah, Director, Public Affairs.
