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The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, has called for the support and cooperation of
Nigerians in the fight against corruption, stating that “the job of fighting
corruption should not be left only to statutory organisations”.
He stated that the Commission had been deploying the
social media platforms to reach the public, adding that the fight against
corruption could not be fought only by traditional model of public
enlightenment.
He spoke on Tuesday, December 9, at this year’s
International Anti-Corruption Day organised by Inter-Agency Task Team, IATT, at
the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja, with the theme: “Break the Corruption Chain”.
December 9, every year, has been set aside globally to
raise awareness and restate commitment to the fight against corruption.
The anti-graft Czar further stated that stated
that the Commission had developed a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory, which
deals with all types of analysis in the fight against corruption.
“We have trained a lot of analysts and financial crimes
investigators who specialize in modern techniques of identifying frauds,” he
said.
Also speaking, Mr. Ledum Mitee, chairman of Inter-Agency
Task Team, IATT, emphasized the need to empower the anti-corruption
institutions with the necessary resources to confront corruption.
Citing the Jakarta Principles for Anti-Corruption, which
include remuneration, authority over human resources, adequate and reliable
resources as well as financial autonomy, he expressed doubt that the
anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria
meet the standards.
According to him, if Nigeria was to make significant
progress on developmental issues, it must break the corruption chain so as to
reduce corruption to the minimum.
He also called for the effective implementation of laws at
all levels of governance without fear or favour. “Not only must there be no
sacred cows and the culture of impunity wiped out, but the replication of
anti-corruption measures and institutions at the sub-national levels must be
seen as a priority,” he said.
Bala Sanga, representative from the United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, , emphasized that corruption had the capability to
lead to weak governance, which in turn could fuel organised crimes, including
human trafficking, money laundering, terrorism and other forms of criminality.
Sanga, while pledging the support of UNODC to
eliminate corruption, added that the UNODC had just started the implementation
of 34.5 million Euro project funded by the European Union to assist
anti-corruption agencies, the police, the judiciary and civil society
organizations.
Mr. Obunike Olaegbu of Public Complaints Commission advised
the EFCC, ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies to do more in the area
of enlightenment and sensitization of the public on the ills of corruption.
Also, Mr. Kolade Omoyola, representative from the Code of
Conduct Bureau, urged Nigerians to declare their assets, stating that the
Bureau was doing its best to break the chain of corruption through Public
enlightenment.
Mr
Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, who gave
the key note address, charged leaders who are nonchalant about fighting
corruption to have a rethink.
“I
don’t congratulate people on erecting buildings, but I ask what they have done
to build our values,” he said.
The
highlight of the commemorative event was the unveiling of the Inter-faith Anti-
Corruption Manuals, which are a teaching aid for both Christians and Muslims.
In
his remark titled “We Can Fight Corruption with Religion”, Lamorde said: “The
public unveiling of the Inter-faith Manuals is only one stage in a long process
that also includes the training of those who are expected to put it to use-the
faith leaders, women and youths. Along with the committee, the Commission will
organise workshops in the six geo-political zones, using the manuals to build
relevant local capacity critical for an effective war on corruption.”
Other agencies represented at the event were Nigeria
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Fiscal Responsibility
Commission, Technical Unit on Governance and Anti Corruption Reform and
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, among others.
In attendance were top personalities, including the Emir of
Suleja, Alhaji Aawal Ibrahim, Chairman of IAAC, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede and ArchBishop
John Praise Danile, Secretary, IAAC, among others.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
9th December, 2014
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