The big boss at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu has once again urged the public to support the whistle-blowing policy of President Muhammadu Buhari, while stressing that the security of the informant is guaranteed.
“The whistle-blower can report to the authorities through a secure online portal, which would also conceal the identity of the blower through the ministry of finance or through law enforcement agencies like EFCC,” he said.
Magu said this at a Town Hall meeting organized on Whistle Blowing and Fight against Corruption in Nigeria, at City Green Hotel, Yola Road, Jimeta, Adamawa State recently.
The EFCC Chair, who was represented by Friday Ebelo, Head of Operations, EFCC Gombe Office, noted that the Federal Government of Nigeria introduced the whistle blowing policy in 2016 based on the whistle-blower Act.
“The policy states that if you whistle-blow in good faith, you will be protected, if you feel that you have been treated badly because of your report, you can file a formal complaint, if you report false or misleading information, it will be referred to the enforcement agents for investigation and possible prosecution,” he added.
He further said that corruption, as we all agreed, is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of every system in Nigeria.
“It is a crime with such a despicable viral effect and disastrous tendency like terrorism, and is capable of obstructing good governance,” he said.
Speaking further, he listed the EFCC achievements so far on whistle blowing. He said: “On the 10th of February, 2017, $9.2million cash was recovered from a home belonging to the former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna.
He continued, “in that same period, EFCC recovered N450million from an abandoned shop in the Nigerian Air Force Complex in Victoria Island, Lagos.
“In 2017, the EFCC via information from a whistle-blower helped the government to recover $43.5million, GBP27, 800 and N23. 2million at No 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagoa, Nigeria. It will interest you to know that the Federal Ministry of Finance paid the Ikoyi whistle blower the sum of N421million”.
“This has no doubt reduced the craze for stealing government resources and stocking them in unthinkable locations”, he added.
Packaged by Alice Egbedele
