Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde on Thursday, February 23rd , 2012 disclosed that the EFCC’s role in instilling fiscal discipline and good governance in the three arms of governance was essential to the realization of federal government’s reform agenda.

Lamorde, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Commission’s deputy director of operations, Ahmad Abdurrahman, made the observation while receiving officers of Advance Defence Intelligence Course 06/2012 from Defence Intelligence School , Karu, Abuja who paid him a courtesy call as part of their study tour of the Commission.

He said that the commission saved the country from being a failed state as its status as a sovereign country was being tasked by high level of corruption in public and private sectors. “In fact, Nigeria was at the centre of serious uncharitable image and diplomatic crisis because various forms of economic and financial crimes and acts of corruption were pervasive and integrity quotients in public and private lives were very low.”

The EFCC boss who took the students through a detailed route on the evolution, functions, organisational structure and activities of the Commission stated it has achieved so much within a short history of its existence, some of which include prosecution of over 700 persons with a record of more than 500 convictions since inception, recoveries of billions of dollars and the demystification of the Nigerian concept of ‘big man’.

Other achievements , according to Lamorde, include the development of EagleClaw and Eagle-Eye softwares developed by EFCC to fight cybercrime and tax evasion. Another milestone recorded by EFCC is the sensitization programme named Anti Corruption Revolution (ANCOR) which is aimed at encouraging every Nigerian to own and key into the anti-corruption fight.

He said that the task of fighting corruption was quite herculean such that despite its modest achievements ,EFCC still faces the challenges of its staff being attacked, blackmailed and its cases stalled or delayed by slow criminal justice system, among other restricting institutional and legal bottlenecks.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and a Principal Staff Officer in charge of administration of the School, Col .A. M Aliyu said they were at the Commission because of its strategic role in intelligence and security in Nigeria . “We are here to sharpen the officers mind on issues of critical analysis and EFCC being one of the establishment that handles security’ we are here to have a background knowledge on how they operate.”

He said he was impressed by what they have seen and that the Commission is even better equipped now that a competent officer in the mode of the current chairman is leading the esteemed organisation. The group comprises 17 students drawn from the army, navy and civilians. The group was also accompanied by Lt. Col O.T. Ojutaiye who is the Team Coordinator.

Defence Intelligece School.

Media & Publicity Unit
23rd February, 2012.