Staff and Officer Cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, paid a working visit to the Abuja Headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday as part of efforts to further strengthen relationship between the NDA and the EFCC.
Led by Navy Commander Isah Rambo Saidu, who doubles as the Head of Intelligence and Cyber Security Department of the Academy, the Cadets, which included Course 69 Officer Cadets of the Department of Intelligence and Cyber Security, NDA, embarked on the educational visit, in order to expose themselves to the areas of specialization at the EFCC.
“The visit is to ensure that they are exposed to areas of their expertise before embarking on various researches,” he said.
The tour, which saw them visiting various departments at the EFCC Headquarters, also afforded them the opportunity to be exposed to the workings of the EFCC, as it relates to ridding the country of economic and financial crimes.
Receiving them at the EFCC’s state-of-the-art Forensics and Crime Laboratory Directorate, their first port of call, Gideon Gashong, who stood in for the Deputy Director, Forensics Directorate, Maimunah Betso, intimated them on the activities of the Directorate.
He conducted the Officers round the Forensics Questioned Documents, Fingerprint/Crime Scene Management, Chemistry/Biology, Audio, Video & Image Analysis and Digital Forensics Sections of the department and gave insights into the operations of the sections.
“The Forensics Directorate contributes immensely to the investigation of cases, and ultimately in the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria,” he said.
They were later led to the EFCC’s Operations Directorate, where they were received on behalf of the acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, by the EFCC’s Director of Operations, Umar Mohammed.
Giving insight into the operations of the EFCC, he noted that the anti-graft agency had the mandate to spearhead the anti-corruption crusade.
“The operations directorate is the live-wire of the EFCC’s corruption fight as it handles a number of cases, which are investigated before they are taking to court for prosecution,” he said, stressing the importance of synergy among law enforcement agencies.
The education tour of the cadets, also afforded them the opportunity to gain insight into the operations of the EFCC’s Public Affairs Directorate. Engaging them on the activities of the department, Head, Creative Communications Unit, Hajiya Aisha Larai Musa, shed light on the enlightenment efforts of the Department.
“The mandate of the Department is enshrined in Section 6 of the EFCC Establishment Act, which stipulates that the Commission should adopt measures to eradicate the commission of economic and financial crimes,” she said.
She further used to opportunity to call on the Cadets to partner with the EFCC in the fight against corruption, stressing that, “the Commission cannot fight corruption alone, and so there is the need for everyone to join in the fight”.
The visiting Cadets were also taken round the EFCC’s Information and Communication Technology Department.
Packaged by Emmanuel Okafor
