BEVERLY HILLS, June 17, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has committed the support of the agency to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in its fight against financial crimes.
Magu made this known on Friday as he set up a joint task force to study the recently released audit report released by NEITI and identify areas where financial crimes have been committed against the nation.
According to a statement issued by NEITI’s Director of Communications, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Magu made the decision in Abuja after receiving copies of the reports from the NEITI Executive Secretary, Waziri Adio.
The statement noted that Magu said it is no longer acceptable for NEITI to publish reports and agencies, companies and individuals that had clearly committed financial crimes as disclosed by the reports are left to go without sanctions.
“I have heard people say that NEITI has no teeth to bite, but today I assure you that by our renewed joint collaboration, the EFCC will provide NEITI with the required teeth to bite,” he said.
Magu advised members of the task force, drawn from NEITI and the EFCC, to carry out the assignments with utmost diligence by developing an action plan and make recommendations for immediate action by the commission.
Presenting the report, Adio had lamented that while NEITI has been churning out series of reports since 2004, it was regrettable that no one has either been tried or convicted for infractions on the NEITI Act.
Story by David Oputah
