BY HON. OSARO ONAIWU JNR

The issue of corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria is frightening, with elected officials stealing and siphoning state resources with reckless abandon. As a result, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission continues to be a vital agency in the battle against corruption and associated practices.

President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Adbulrasheed Bawa as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC in order to accelerate the fight against corrupt elements in society. This appointment was made based on Bawa's qualifications and clean record in his many positions in crime fighting.

Since his appointment in 2021 to the present, it is evident to the blind and audible to the deaf that the EFCC Chairman has taken the fight to criminal elements, and the sterling records of prosecution and convictions attest to this.

We are not surprised, however, by the actions of some corrupt officials and individuals, which have resulted in the old ploy of inciting public sentiment in order to avoid investigation and probable conviction.

Some of these corrupt elements who were previously sheltered by the cloak of immunity have realized that their temporal immunity is about to expire and are now crying wolf to undermine the agency. Unfortunately, the law is guided by facts and merits rather than feelings and sentiment. Here are some of the facts:
From January 2022 to December 2022 EFCC under the watch of Bawa secured a total of 3785 convictions with Lagos and Rivers State having the highest convictions. The total Monetary Recovery for that same calender year was over N260b, $509M, €2M, £876k, with thousands of asset recovery.



Adbulrasheed Bawa must be supported in carrying out the EFCC's mandate and as outlined in Sections 6 and 7 of the Establishment Act, which include powers to investigate all financial crimes as well as cause an investigation on the properties of any person if the commission believes that the person's lifestyle and the extent of his properties are not justified by his source of income. Nigerians must back the EFCC, led by Bawa, in its fight against the perpetrators of heinous corruption in our society.


“OUR CONCERNS AND DEMAND AS CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION”

(a) First, as civil society organizations, we applaud the EFCC's efforts and accomplishments thus far and urge them not to abandon their constitutional responsibility of cleansing Nigeria of economic and financial crimes.

(b) We urge the Nigerian Legislature to collaborate with the EFCC's legal arm to draft laws mandating the completion of corrupt cases involving appointed and elected public officials. This will improve the speed with which justice is delivered and the credibility of the judicial branch of government.

(C) We urge Nigerian judges hearing cases involving corrupt public officials to impose maximum punishments when prosecution counsel has proven their cases beyond a reasonable doubt. We are concerned about the recent brief prison terms handed down by judges to corrupt politicians.

Nigerians must recognize that the fight to cleanse the country of financial and economic crime is a collaborative effort, and as such, every patriotic citizen must contribute to its success.

Centre For strategy Ethics and Value.

Jo Foundation

The People's Care And Advocacy Initiative.

Conscience Women Initiative


SIGNED
HON. OSARO ONAIWU JNR
Convener.

EFCC is a light in the deep darkness, if you are ignorant of the rot in most law enforcement and regulatory agencies you cannot understand.

Good one. The fight against economic and financial crimes must be sustained and accelerated

Bawa is a rogue and he runs an organized crime ring.. Nuhu Ribadu's still the man..