EFCC intercepts N15.5bn at airports in 2012

Ibrahim Larmode

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday said it had in the last 11 months intercepted over N15bn at the nation’s airports.

The EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Larmode, in a statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, stated this during the 2012 International Anti-Corruption Day celebrations.

The event entitled ‘Act, Help, Detect Corruption Risks Today’, was organised  by the Inter- Agency Task Team comprising anti-corruption agencies in the country.

According to him, the amount represents illegitimate cash being taken out of the country through the nation’s airports.

He said N14bn being couriered outside the country was intercepted at the nation’s airports between January and August, while the Special Task Team, a joint patrol by the EFCC operatives and Nigerian Customs Service recovered another $9m (N1.5bn) between August and October.

The team, Larmode said, commenced its operation  in September 2012.

Linking the illegal transfer and corruption to greed and callousness, Lamorde noted that an individual was arrested for laundering $7m  through the airport.

He said, “Corruption is one of the reasons Nigeria has not been able to make progress, socially, politically and economically and we have all agreed that it cannot be sustained in Nigeria. So, all of us must come together to fight it.”

The EFCC chairman also called for the review of the agency’s funding and legislations, explaining that between January and December 2012, the Commission had filed about 353 cases in courts across the country and secured about 53 convictions so far.

He said, “Criminal procedure rather than judiciary should be blamed for the problem of slow pace of trial of corruption cases. Somebody cannot steal from you and expect that the law should protect him against you the victim of his crime. Something has to be done. I pray that the new leadership of the judiciary will be able to do something.”

The EFCC boss also reiterated the need for a special court to take on corruption cases in the country.

The IATT Chairman, Mr. Ledum Mitee, on the occasion identified weak anti-corruption institutions, poor funding and coordination as some of the reasons why corruption persists in the country.

Mittee said, “We cannot continue on this path. We must steer the ship alright. With the establishment of the IATT, synergy is being built among the anti-corruption agencies; the era of individual turf is waning, giving room for possible joint investigations and prosecutions which in turn is expected to result in effective sanctions and prevention of corruption.”

Mitee added that another way corruption could be collectively and systematically addressed was “by adopting a Holistic National Strategy to Combat Corruption. And I understand that the IATT has developed a draft National Strategy document. This document is most encouraging and should be given every push for adoption by the Federal Executive Council to translate into policy”.