By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Apparently to deter him from going all out to fight corruption in every facets of the Nigerian society, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa has cried out that he receives death threats for doing his job.
He also confirmed the fears of many Nigerians including supporters and opponents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government that corruption and economic crimes are everywhere in Nigeria.
Bawa who was speaking on the topic: “A Look at EFCC’s Operations” on Tuesday on Channels Television breakfast programme, ‘Sunrise Daily’, alleged that he has received death threats in the course of doing his job.
According to him there has been threats to his life within the short period he has been in the saddle, adding that he receives threat calls from faceless persons who may not be comfortable with the heat the Commission is giving economic saboteurs and criminals in the country.
The EFCC boss however said the threats have not in anyway affected his capacity to rid or reduce crimes and criminality to the barest minimum in Nigeria.
Bawa insisted that the ‘Fight Against Corruption’ in Nigeria is a task that he intends to give his best shot no matter whose ox is gored, pointing out that there are corruption everywhere in Nigeria.
Said he: “There are corruption everywhere. There is corruption going on in the Educational Sector just like in many other sectors. There are corruption in corporate bodies. Corruption and economic crimes are everywhere. That’s for sure”.
Bawa however revealed that EFCC is not sparing any effort to deal with the menace of corruption, pointing out that, ” we are going after Public Sector Corruption and will not shy away from going after anyone involved in crimes”.
“The bad news for economic saboteurs is that we are stopping at nothing to come after them. Anytime we have evidence, we go for them to put on trials Councillors, Local Government Chairmen, Governors, top government officials and private individuals and corporate bodies found to have committed economic crimes “, the EFCC Chairman said.
On how EFCC treat petitions sent to it by whistleblowers, Bawa said: “we receive 100 of petitions everyday which are turned to our Petition Verifying Committee and if there is any merit in the petition its sent to Investigation Department to deal with it”.
He assured that the Committe, Department and the Commission’s job are being guided and done in accordance with the Provision of Section 7 of Law Establishing EFCC.
The EFCC is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud (419 fraud) and money laundering.
It was established in 2003, partially in response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), which named Nigeria as one of 23 countries non-cooperative in the international community’s efforts to fight money laundering.
