By Raphael Ede
Enugu
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had recovered over N5 billion from subsidy fraud investigation while prosecuting over 40 suspects in court, while properties worth over N1 billion was recovered in the pension fraud matter.
Executive chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, disclosed this yesterday at a workshop titled: “Effective Reporting of Financial Crimes” the Commission organised for select journalists from the South-east in Enugu, adding that the Commission secured one conviction in the pension fraud.
The chairman, who was represented by the deputy director, Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah, said in spite of their shortcomings, the media has been helpful.
“The Commission owes its modest achievements in the last 11 years to the active support of the Nigerian media and we are determined to consolidate this working partnership, going forward,” he said.
He said the decision of the Commission to sponsor the workshop underscored the importance which it attached to the role of the media in the fight against corruption and economic crimes.
“The anti-graft war cannot be won without the support of the media. We rely on you to help carry the message of anti-corruption to Nigerians and mobilise them to buy into the anti-corruption campaign as the anti-graft agencies, alone cannot win the fight against corruption in the country.”
The EFCC boss, who urged the media to act as whistle blowers by beaming searchlights on area where corrupt practices thrive in our country, however regretted that corrupt elements in our midst have infiltrated a section of our otherwise very robust, patriotic and nationalistic media
“It is common these days to see the media celebrating persons who epitomise all that’s wrong with our nation.”
Lamorde advocated that the media should take greater interest in cases that are either being investigated or prosecuted by the commission, stressing that situation where media interest in corruption cases fizzles after arraignment is unhealthy.
“You must be prepared to track the trial of corruption cases as that will not only help in putting such matters in public consciousness, it will also be a disincentive for compromise by errant judicial officers.”