The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has told the United Nations General Assembly that the anti-graft agency exposes Nigeria’s corruption “by the day.”
On Thursday in New York, he also called on the global community to tackle corruption and strengthen international cooperation against illicit financial flows.
Mr Bawa stated this at UN headquarters while delivering Nigeria’s statement at a special session on corruption.
“Public corruption is being exposed by the day, and several politically exposed persons have been and are being prosecuted and divested of their illicit assets.
“We have been engaging with international law enforcement agencies around the world, and some of the collaboration has led to the recovery and repatriation of stolen funds,” said the EFCC chair.
Speaking further, he noted, “It has led to recovery and repatriation of stolen funds, including the recent return of the £4.2million by the UK government that was stolen from Nigeria by a former governor.’’
In addition, Mr Bawa said, “Policies have been introduced to mitigate revenue leakages, including the development of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. The NACS is developed with five identified cardinal pillars on prevention, public engagement, ethical re-orientation, enforcement and sanctions and recovery and management of stolen assets/proceeds of crime.”
The three-day assembly special session on corruption focused on ‘Challenges, Measures to Prevent and Combat Corruption and Strengthen International Cooperation.’
Mr Bawa spoke of the need for a multifaceted approach to addressing illicit financial flows as recommended by the ‘High Level Panel Report on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda’ (FACTI Panel).
“Nigeria further calls for the simplification of evidentiary requirements and other mutual legal assistance procedures to seize, confiscate and repatriate proceeds of corruption as appropriate, to enhance international cooperation for timely recovery and return of assets.
“Let me reiterate that the fight against Illicit Financial Flows is urgent and important in our collective efforts to address corruption,” explained Mr Bawa.
The EFCC boss told the gathering that Nigeria, under President Muhammadu Buhari, made the fight against corruption one of its cardinal objectives.
(NAN)
