SAN FRANCISCO, August 18, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has so far recovered about N5billion (five billion naira) from persons and organisations indicted in the fuel subsidy scam.
The agency’s Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, made this disclosure on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 during a town hall meeting on Fuel Subsidy organised by Africa Network of Economic and Environment Justice, ANEEJ, in collaboration with Justice for All, J4A, at Vines Hotels, Abuja.
According to Uwujaren, the EFCC is currently prosecuting 13 different oil subsidy cases, while investigations are on to bring other indicted persons or companies to justice.
“Investigation and prosecution of fuel subsidy cases have not been too easy for us but we are resolute in our determination to ensure that we push all those cases to logical conclusion”, he said.
While underlining the importance the Commission places on transparency and corruption issues in the oil sector, he said, the Commission presently has a full fledge section charged with investigation of oil subsidy matters and other extractive industries issues.
He thanked the organisers of the programme for their initiative saying, “As a Commission, we welcome any initiative that draws public attention to the monumental fraud that we have in the oil subsidy regime”.
Speaking, Mr, David Ugolor, Director, ANEEJ, said the purpose of the town hall meeting was to review how the anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary have fared so far in the investigation and prosecution of indicted persons and companies in the fuel subsidy regime and to also agree on measures needed to be taken to put pressure on Federal Government to do more in bringing indicted persons and or companies to justice.
According to Ugolor, “it is widespread that payments of oil subsidy to oil marketers were inflated and several marketers got paid for doing nothing and expenses charged to subsidy account”. He emphasised the need to amend EFCC Act to create “special courts” for prosecution of corruption cases.
Also speaking, Mr. Otsemaye Newton, J4A, called for more synergy among the anti-corruption agencies and the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in investigating and prosecuting oil subsidy and other economic and financial crime cases.
Another speaker, Mr. Peter Ritchie who spoke on “Fuel Subsidy Fraud Background” criticised the manner public funds are being siphoned and called for prudence in the management of Petroleum Support Fund.
Ritchie also stressed the need for financial independence of anti-corruption agencies to further strengthen the war against graft in Nigeria.
He however commended EFCC for the strides recorded in prosecution of oil subsidy and other corruption cases in Nigeria
More than 40 CSOs participated in the town hall meeting.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has offered to assist the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC in tackling the menace of lottery scams and other unwholesome practices in the lottery sector.
Ibrahim Lamorde, Executive Chairman, EFCC, made the offer Monday, August 18, 2014 while receiving Mr. Adolphus Joe Ekpe, Director General, NLRC, who led his management team to the Commission on a courtesy visit.
The EFCC boss who lamented the manner Nigerians are being ripped off their hard earned resources through unscrupulous lottery promotions expressed the Commission’s preparedness towards cleaning up the lottery industry of cheats and illegal lottery operators.
According to him, the Commission “will make available its operatives in the area of investigation and detection so as to have a joint team to clean up the system”.
Lamorde said the war against graft can only be fought and won through the collaboration of all stakeholders in the country.
Speaking earlier, NLRC Director General, Mr. Ekpe, said that the team was in the Commission to solicit support of EFCC in the area of lottery crime detection and investigation; arrest and prosecution of lottery offenders; and staff attachment and training in fighting financial crimes in relation to lottery activities.
The NLRC boss stated that the National Lottery Regulatory Commission was established by the National Lottery Act of 2005. He described the Commission as the only Federal Government agency empowered by law to regulate the business of lottery in Nigeria.
According to Ekpe, “lottery business is a tool for job creation, wealth redistribution and national development”. He decried the activities of quacks in the industry saying, “it is the huge potentials in lottery that makes it attractive to some dubious Nigerians who set out to cheat other Nigerians in the guise of lottery”.
The NLRC boss, who lauded EFCC for its giant strides in curbing economic and financial crimes in Nigeria, expressed optimism that the collaboration between the two agencies would help stamp out illegal lottery operators from the industry and put a check on sharp practices by registered operators.
The short ceremony witnessed the setting up of a joint committee to fashion out a framework of collaboration by both agencies.
