- Gives bankers June 01, 2021 to declare assets in accordance with the Bank, Employees Declaration of Asset Act.
The new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Tuesday declared that a new anti-corruption body is emerging that would be different in terms of the way it investigates, prosecutes and generally execute its mandate.
Bawa told journalists after meeting President Muhammed Buhari on what the Commission has done so far towards eradication of financial crimes in Nigeria that based on the role banks play in keeping funds acquired illegitimately, all bankers have till June 2021 to declare their assets in accordance with the Bank, Employees Declaration of Asset Act.
The new EFCC chairman assured Nigerians that he is working towards a new EFCC, saying that “going forward, we are going to do our best to ensure that this country is free of financial crimes. Let me just put this. We understood that at the tail end of every financial crime is for the criminal to have access to the funds that he or she have illegitimately gotten. And we’re worried about the roles of financial institutions. And we have discussed.
“But we hope that all financial institutions, particularly the bankers, will declare their assets as provided for by the law, in accordance with the Bank, Employees Declaration of Asset Act. And that the EFCC, come the 1st of June 2021, will be demanding for this asset declaration forms, filled by the bankers so that the line that we have drawn from the 1st of June is really complied with by bankers in particular.”
The EFCC boss said that his Commission is hot chase of cyber criminals because their activities are chasing away investors, giving the country bad name and bad image.
Accordign to him, “well, the issue of cybercrime is a huge problem for this country. In the last one month, we have arrested about 300 cyber criminals across the country and it was reported in the media. It is something that I am particularly worried about. As a young man, I am appealing to all young Nigerians to desist from these cybercrime activities.
“It is bringing bad image to our country, it is giving bad name to our country. It is also chasing away a lot of foreign investment that we need. And I call on all parents, guardians and of course, elders in the community, in the society, to talk to these young people to desist from these crimes.
“These are crimes that they commit online. And of course, there is nothing like patting your back to say go and sin no more. Our laws does not provide for that. It is a crime and as we say in EFCC, EFCC will get you anywhere, anytime.”