The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it has secured 750 convictions in this year, despite the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Muhammad Umar, made the disclosure at the 2020 International Anti-corruption Day, Public Presentation of Anti-corruption Strategy and Official Commissioning of Kano Anti-Corruption Institute, held at the institute on Wednesday.
Mr Umar, represented by the EFCC Director Operations, Larai Musa, described as heart-warming that despite the effect of the virus outbreak in every stratum of the country, the anti-graft agency was able to secure the convictions.
According to the EFCC boss, securing the convictions was as a result of unrelenting efforts of the commission in the fight against corruption which, he said, was the responsibility of all and sundries.
He, therefore, called on Nigerians to take responsibility and join the fight against corruption in the country.
“We call on everyone to join hands in the fight against corruption.
“We call on the staff of the Kano Anti-Corruption Commission to discharge their duties with commitment and integrity.
“The EFCC has successfully secured 750 convictions in 2020 despite the COVID 19 global pandemic” he declared.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, PCACC, Barr. Muhuyi Rimingado, claimed his agency was performing better than some federal anti-graft bodies.
According to him, the state government’s non-interference was the reason behind the huge successes the agency had recorded.
He said: “Let me not be over-ambitious but, to be honest, I can beat my chest to say that PCACC is performing ahead of some federal anti-graft agencies.
“This is because, the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has not been interfering in the activities and affairs of this agency.
“This non-interference is the key behind our successes,” Mr Rimingado added.
He also disclosed that the commission would soon launch anti-corruption strategy to give way for Open Government Partnership, OGP, aimed at strengthening transparency in governance.
“To further strengthen our anti-corruption fight, we have set up anti-corruption units in all the 44 local government areas of the state.
“We have indeed recorded a lot of successes, courtesy of freedom given to us by Governor Ganduje to operate freely without interference,” he emphasized.
