The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, has expressed his readiness to upgrade the facilities at the Commission’s Academy to make it a training centre for investigators of anti-graft agencies in the West Africa sub-region in furtherance of efforts to effectively curb economic and financial crimes in the region.
Lamorde gave the assurance on Monday, March 9, 2015 when he played host to Mr. Issoufou Boureima, President, High Authority for the Fight Against Corruption and Similar Crimes, HALCIA, Republic of Niger who was at the Commission in furtherance of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed by both agencies in 2012.
The visit was to strengthen the existing ties between the two agencies in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
The EFCC boss, in response to a request by HALCIA President, said the Commission had planned a regional training programme that would have taken place mid 2014, but was shelved following the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in a few countries in the region.
“We assure you that we are already making efforts towards offering such training; so, we will accept the request. At the moment, we are planning to upgrade the facilities at the Academy in realisation of this plan. In particular, we are interested in ensuring that there are no language issues. We have an interpreter already and are even in the process of acquiring translation equipment.
So, the issue of training by the EFCC for the region is certain”, Lamorde assured.
Apart from the proposed regional training, Lamorde stated that, the EFCC would not hesitate to provide assistance in any area of need as might be requested of the Commission. “Apart from the proposed regional training, don’t hesitate to call on us if you have any specific need,” he said.
“We should share intelligence and information about money laundering and terrorism financing”, Lamorde added.
According to him, “ Of all the MoUs signed with other anti-graft agencies, only the one with HALCIA has been most effective. It is also important for us to review past achievements, while also setting new targets for each other.
Both Nigeria and Niger share a lot of things in common, particularly the cultures and tradition of people in Northern Nigeria .”
Lamorde, who also described the visit as a new landmark, said the MoU signed by both agencies resulted in the successes so far recorded by both Nigeria and Niger in the war against corruption.
He urged the leadership of HALCIA to work hand-in-hand with the EFCC in view of the current challenges such as the Boko Haram insurgency which, according to him, had become a threat to both countries.
Earlier in his remark, Boureima described the efforts of EFCC in the fight against graft as commendable, adding that “we would like to thank you for your support since the signing of the MoU. In fact, all the cases you have intervened in have been successfully concluded and the offenders given different jail terms.”
Boureima was accompanied on the visit by Sidibe Abdoulkari, Abarchi Fati and Alio Daouda, all commissioners of HALCIA.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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