EFCC Press Release
The Chairman of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, has said that the war
against corruption will be fought with relentless vigour with a view to improving
Nigeria
’s image before the international community.
Lamorde made the declaration
on Thursday, January 22, 2015, while receiving a delegation from the French
Embassy in Nigeria
led by the Police Attache, Mr. Eric Bonnichon.
Lamorde, who
acknowledged the growing relationship between the EFCC and the French Police,
said that the visit was proof of the confidence that the French authority have
in the Commission.
He described the visit as
another milestone in the relationship between the Commission and its partners from
the European Union, saying that ‘‘this is the second set of foreign visit we
have had within this week. The last one was with the British, and we are
expanding.”
While expressing
gratitude to the delegation who made a donation of eight laptops to the
Commission, the EFCC boss said that the gesture would further boost the efforts
of the Commission to stamp out corruption in Nigeria.
Lamorde who expressed delight
on the growing collaboration between the agency and the French Government
warned that the EFCC would not leave any stone unturned in bringing corrupt
elements in Nigeria
to justice. “If anyone commits any economic or financial crime in this country
and runs to France and
thinks France
will give him protection from the law. We will ensure that he/she is brought to
book. In the same vein, if someone commits a crime in France and comes to
Nigeria, we are always here to liaise with the French authorities and ensure that
such a person is brought to book by way of investigation, prosecution or even
extradition to France”, he added.
Speaking
on the investigation of alleged corrupt public officials, the anti-graft boss
said that investigation was ongoing and assured that the public would be kept
informed as soon as investigation was concluded and the case was ready for
prosecution. “A lot of people are being targeted, but most investigations are
at the preliminary stage; so, we may not be able to provide the details now because
it may jeopardise our investigation.
“I assure Nigerians that the fight
against corruption is going on with full vigour. It takes time for cases to be
fully and diligently investigated and taken to court and then made
public”, said Lamorde.
Speaking earlier, the
leader of the delegation, Eric, said though the laptops were not
enough, it was an indication of the improvement in the cooperation between the
EFCC and the French government.
Eric,
who spoke through Balima Roger of the Police Liaison Office, French Embassy,
stated that ‘‘We hope that in the future, we will be able to reinforce our
cooperation. I want to seize this opportunity to say that anybody who commits
any economic crime in France
and comes to Nigeria
or vice-versa will be prosecuted.”
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media &
Publicity
22nd January,
2015
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