Criminality of all forms including
corruption and financial crimes have been identified as a major challenge faced
by counties of the world and Nigeria inclusive.
National security adviser to
President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), made the observation
while declaring open the 6th Interpol Global Programme on
Anti-Corruption, Financial Crimes and Assets Recovery conference organized in
conjunction with the economic and financial crimes commission EFCC in Abuja.
Col. Dasuki who noted that time has
come for all countries of the world to declare total war on corruption which he
described as the worse enemy to humanity commended the Interpol for providing
the platform for the participating countries including the EFCC which he
recalled only stated operation in 2012 but observed has grown bigger.
He expressed optimism that the
capacity building programme was only a call to action but will certain enrich
the knowledge of agencies that are engaged in fighting crime, terrorism and
corruption for a better society.
In an address the Minister of
Justice Bello Adoke represented by prof. Peter Agbe commended the Interpol for
the capacity building initiative designed to sharpen the skills and improve the
knowledge of participants, especially the officers of the EFCC in these key
areas of their mandate.
The AGF lamented that Nigeria
and indeed many developing countries are bedeviled by the scourge of corruption
and economic crimes maintaining that the agencies duty which is tackling those
vices is key to our collective development as a nation state and as a
continent.
According to Mr. Adoke “we must not
only prevent the occurrences of these crimes but must ensure that stolen assets
carted away to foreign countries are not only recovered but also returned to
victim states”.
He added that the fight
against corruption required specialized training and knowledge therefore,
believed that programmes such as the present one will facilitate improvement.
He said as supervising Minister, he
was impressed with the tremendous progress made so far by the EFCC despite
daunting challenges of inadequate allocation of funds.
He advised that the commission from
time to time improve on its operations to be able to tackle corruption.
In an overview, Assistant Director
Interpol’s anti corruption office (ACO) Mr. Jaganathan Saravanasamy said
Interpol ACO recognizes the prominent role played by the EFCC in the fight
against corruption and also noted that it is one of the few corruption agencies
(ACA’S) that has successfully recorded and brought back proceeds of corruption
held in other International Jurisdictions.
The Assistant director also said the
workshop which first held in Nairobi Kenya last December is witnessing Nigeria
hosting the second edition adding that the professionalism and the commitment
of EFCC prompted the Interpol to host this important international workshop for
the African countries.
Mr. Saravanasamy who said political
will is needed to tackle corruption assured that the Interpol will continue to
provide various technical assistance to member countries to build their
capacities in the fight against corruption.
Chairman economic and financial
crimes commission Ibrahim Lamode in an address noted Nigeria was honored for
giving the hosting right and expressed satisfaction that the commitment to the
programme cuts across all parts of the international policing world not minding
the challenges.
The EFCC chairman Lamented that
corruption which is hardly a one man criminal endeavour has become a major
issue to community development adding that it is the reason why at he
international levels “we are devoting enormous resources to setup operational
institutions, we are putting so much into building legal architectures and
drive through reform programmes”.
He therefore affirmed that these
efforts will always come up short against determined criminal enterprises if they
are isolated by lack of inter-agency cooperation’s.
He expressed hope that at the end of
the conference partnership is expected in the areas of information sharing,
joint operations, training and research adding that nothing should be allowed
to stand in the way of coordinated global efforts to reduce incidences of
financial crimes, including corruption to their barest Minimum.
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