Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC; Yoruba : Ìgbìmọ̀ Ìwàọ̀daràn Tòkòwó àti Oníìnáwó ; German Commission for Economic and Financial Crimes ) is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates white-collar crime such as advance fraud or money laundering . It has offices in Abuja (headquarters), Lagos and Port Harcourt .
The EFCC was founded in 2002 under pressure from the international money laundering commission FATF , which listed Nigeria alongside 22 other countries as a non-cooperative country ( NCCT ). The FATF saw the establishment of the EFCC as a major step in the fight against corruption and therefore removed Nigeria from the NCCT's list on June 23, 2006, but decided to monitor the situation in the country for another year.
The commission consists of a chairman who is or was a member of a law enforcement agency, the President of the Nigerian Central Bank , one member from each of the ministries of foreign affairs, economics and justice, the directors-general of the intelligence services National Intelligence Agency and State Security Service and nine other high-ranking representatives of Nigerian authorities. The circle is completed by five Nigerians with experience in finance, banking or bookkeeping, whose function is not further defined. The members of the commission are appointed by the President for four years and confirmed by the Senate. President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed former Police Deputy Commissioner Nuhu Ribadu to chair the EFCC .
Ribadu estimates that over $ 380 billion has been either stolen or embezzled by governments since Nigerian independence. The EFCC has so far brought charges against prominent bankers, former ministers, senators and high party members, including Diepreye Alamieyeseigha , the governor of Bayelsa . In September 2006, the BBC reported that EFCC was investigating 31 out of 36 governors for corruption.
Critics point out that the powers of the EFCC can serve the president not only to fight economic crime, but - especially with a view to the elections in April 2007 - also to harm political opponents. This was particularly evident in the case of former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar , who stood in the way of Obasanjo's original intention of running for a third time in the presidential elections in April 2007 by amending the constitution. After corruption allegations by the EFCC, he was suspended from his position and not allowed to vote.
Farida Waziri has been the chairwoman of the organization since May 2008 .
On May 6, 2011, Dimeji Bankole was arrested for corruption at the instigation of the EFCC.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ FATF : "Nigeria No Longer Considered Non-cooperative ..." , June 23, 2006
- ↑ BBC News : “Nigerian leaders 'stole' $ 380bn,” October 20, 2006
- ↑ BBC News: Nigeria governors in graft probe, Sep 28, 2006
- ↑ BBC News: "Key Nigerian candidate frozen out," March 15, 2007
- ↑ Katrin Gänsler: Shooting Star rudely falls to the ground. In: the daily newspaper . June 6, 2011, accessed June 7, 2011 .