2024 African Anti Corruption Day: EFCC Calls for Effective Whistle Blowing 

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2024 African Anti Corruption Day: EFCC Calls for Effective Whistle Blowing

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called on individuals to assist the commission in its fight against corruption by intensifying their whistle blowing.

This call was made today at its Kaduna office as it joined other counterparts across the globe to mark the anti – corruption day usually celebrated every 11th day of July.

The 2024 celebration with the theme, Effective Whistleblowing for Corruption Free Nigeria, had an impressive turnout of sister agencies, such as the  Air Force, the Customs, the lCPC, the Police,  the Army, Members from correctional center Youth Corps members, representatives from Niger state and –  including NGO’s who came out in their numbers for a peace walk across Kaduna metropolis.

The walk also served as an avenue for the EFCC to sensitize the public on the issue of corruption.

The Executive Chairman,  of the Commission Ola Olukoyede had in his message delivered by the Acting Zonal Director, EFCC Directorate, Dr. Benedict Ubi described corruption as very deadly affliction which needs to be fought in all ramifications.

“Aside terrorism, corruption ranks as the next deadliest affliction of humanity in every region of the world.

“There can be no accurate statistical or quantitative evaluation of the havoc corruption is wreaking on genuine efforts at development because of its pervasive and recurring nature.

“The world over, the issue of corruption has been a bane to both local and global development. He stated.

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In order to win the fight against corruption, Olukoyede charged that all hands should be on deck as the cankerworm already has eaten deep into the fibres of the society and the commission cannot do it alone.

 

“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.”

While the commission recognizes whistle blowers as anti- corruption promoters, they should not relent in their efforts.  Intensification of whistle blowing to put EFCC on the know is needed to curb the menace. He stressed.

“Whistleblowers are anti-corruption promoters. Through their efforts, anti-corruption agencies are alerted about environmental compromises that should be investigated. The alert can come through verbal and non-verbal corridors. At the EFCC, the Eagle Eye app is an established corruption reporting device that is generating intelligence the Commission can leverage on. No effort is too little in this regard.

“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.

“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 We should not encourage their villainy by being indifferent, silent or non-committal. Whistle blowing is our own opportunity to kick against corruption. Let’s embrace it totally.

“The Whistle Movie Party 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.

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Contributing, the Acting Zonal Director, EFCC Directorate while fielding questions from newsmen assured whistle blowers the commission ‘s safety.

He however warned against falsehood as the commission he said frowns on one raising false alarm.

“There is punishment for false claims and misleading intelligence. Information must point towards truth and evidential proofs.

One tool you can use in helping the EFCC in this fight against corruption is the tool of whistle blowing. Blow your whistle the same way the referee will blow his whistle when players are in the pitch to draw their attention.  Blow the whistle, you will be protected. EFCC will guarantee your safety.

EFCC will reward you if your whistle brings about actionable intelligence which is truth and not false.

Dr. Ubi urged Nigerians to help carry the crusade to the last level.

 

“Tell everyone around you , tell everyone that corruption is our number one enemy. And corruption is not just based in government. We have Yahoo boys everywhere.  Their malady is worst than corruption in some ways . So we must kill corruption. Blow your whistle, blow your whistle so that we can take the nation back to where it belongs.

Photo news

From ICPC taking the lead.
During the walk

At Angwan Shanu: Baba airing his views on the issue of corruption. All hands he said must be on deck to curb the menace.