EFCC Boss Urges Unity To Fight Corruption, …EFCC Leads Road Walk
The Ilorin Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Harry Erin on Thursday led a road walk in Ilorin as part of the 2024 African Union Anti-Corruption Day celebrations
Representing EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, Erin called on all stakeholders to support the Commission’s efforts to eradicate corruption in Nigeria.
The walk began at the EFCC Office in GRA, Ilorin, at 7:00 AM, passing through Ahmadu Bello Way, Post-Office, Offa Road, Flower Garden, and Tanke Junction, and concluded at the starting point around 9:15 AM.
The event saw participation from various security and law enforcement agencies, including the Police, Nigeria Customs Service, NSCDC, Nigeria Immigration Service, NDLEA, FRSC, NYSC, civil society organizations, traditional rulers, and transport associations such as RTEAN, NURTW, and Tricycle Owners Associations of Nigeria, as well as media representatives.
The Government on December 21, 2016, encouraged Nigerians to report fraud, bribery, looted funds, financial misconduct, and other corrupt activities.
The theme for the 2024 African Anti-Corruption Day is “Effective Whistleblowing for Corruption-Free NiNigeria.
According to him, in view of the danger and threat to our existence which corruption represents, it is imperative that individuals, communities, corporate bodies and indeed the whole world join hands together to tackle it frontally. One way of doing this is through the whistle-blowing initiative.
“The Whistle-Blowing Policy in Nigeria, was launched on December 21, 2016 by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance as an anti-corruption programme that encourages people to voluntarily disclose information about fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct, abuse or embezzlement of government assets and any other form of corruption or theft.
“I urge whistleblowers to key into this device. Mails can be sent, telephone calls can be made, and personal visits can be made to any EFCC Command across the country to expose acts of shadiness around us. We also assure every whistle-blower of protection. EFCC will never betray you!
“One salient fact about whistle blowing is that it shows commitment and drive towards anti-corruption. No effort is too little in this regard.
“Although there are ample rewards accruable to the whistleblower, the most important thing is the need to move the wheel of anti-corruption forward. This is a duty for every Nigerian and it is the focus of this year’s anti-corruption Day.
“On this note, I want all of us to embrace this obligation more seriously. We cannot win the war against corruption through lip service, emotional outburst or mere mob campaigns.
“There is a need for commitment, passion, consistency and credibility of intelligence. Every whistle blown must point towards truth and evidential proofs. There is punishment for false claims and misleading intelligence.
“Let us always remember that corruption affects all of us. An internet fraudster poses as much danger to our collective progress as a looter of our national treasury,” he said.
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