EFCC Seeks Int’l Collaboration To Tackle Financial Crimes

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede has called for the collaboration of international stakeholders to tackle corruption and financial crimes.

The EFCC chairman, who stated this at the opening ceremony of INTERPOL/ JICA workshop on financial crime in Abuja yesterday, said no one country can tackle financial crimes alone.

According to him, the daunting nature of the fight against corruption in Nigeria and the world at large deserves serious collaboration between organisations saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption and their stakeholders, noting that “I have learned over the years that no particular organisation, agency or country can fight the scourge of corruption and financial crimes all alone, in view of the dynamic nature of corruption and other financial crimes. The reason I strongly believe that this programme is apt and timely.

“I am therefore delighted that this project is not only targeted at enhancing the capabilities and sharpening of the skills of Nigerian law enforcement agencies in combating corruption and financial crimes, but designed to also foster a culture of cooperation through the establishment of a robust multi-agency network of investigators to strengthen collaboration amongst them.”

The International Criminal Police Organisation, known as INTERPOL; and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are set to collaborate in order to tackle the menace of drug trafficking, fraud and human trafficking across the globe.

Also speaking at the event, the vice president for Africa INTERPOL Executive Committee, AIG Garba Umar (rtd) said enhancing inter-agency cooperation to combat transnational crimes in all its forms is the objective “we needed to set for ourselves in the Nigeria as it is elsewhere.”

He also said INTERPOL is introducing “Silver Notice” which will help financial agencies across the globe to trace and repatriate stolen funds stashed anywhere in the world.

Also speaking, the director, INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-corruption Centre (IFCACC), Isaac Kehinde Oginni said the effective collaboration among nations will disrupt financial profit of criminal enterprise and reduce the crime rate.

According to him, “Horrifying crimes such as drug trafficking, fraud and human trafficking can only be tackled effectively when we disrupt the financial profit behind the whole criminal enterprise.

“The National Central Bureau can only fully close the loop on your investigations, when we collectively follow the money trails across countries, and engage other international partners for assistance to recover them. As INTERPOL vice president, Mr Umar, rightly said in his opening remarks earlier: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’

“Regardless of which agency you come from — you each represent a piece of the puzzle in our collective fight against money laundering. Each agency represents a different shape of the puzzle, with our different strengths and mandate. Each piece of the puzzle forms part of the bigger picture; and even one missing piece will prevent the whole picture from being developed.

This is why, INTERPOL, together with the Japan International Cooperation Agency developed this project to extend the same learning opportunity that I had, to you.”

Meanwhile, the Japan ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi said the workshop is an opportunity for new alliances and collaboration to tackle international financial crimes.