The UK Department for International Development, DFID, has expressed the readiness to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and other anti-graft agencies in the country towards ridding the country of corruption and economic and financial crimes.

During a presentation by the group at the Commission’s head office in Abuja, on Monday, August 29, 2016, Oliver Blake, Team Lead, Governance and Social Development, explained that the project titled “Anti-Corruption in Nigeria” (ACORN) would revolve around ‘‘Sanction, Society and System’’ .
The project coordinator, Ekanem Bassey said the project would examine financial accountability in the public sector as well as the general strategies deployed by the anti- corruption agencies in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
In his contribution, the acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, stated that the private sector, especially the banking industry, should also be brought under the searchlight of the group.
According to him, “Some of these banks have created an enabling environment for looters to hide proceeds of their criminal engagements with ease. Therefore, emphasis should also be laid on prevention, as this is also part of the Commissions mandate, in addition to enforcement.’’
Magu also urged the coordinator of the project to focus on prevention side of the fight against corruption.
In attendance at the presentation, which was aimed at getting inputs from local anti-corruption agencies for a better formulation of the project, were representatives from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Federal Ministry of Justice, TUGAR and National Assembly, among others
The project will commence by the first quarter of 2017.

Media & Publicity
29th August, 2016