ABUJA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — Nigeria’s anti-graft police on Sunday announced plans to investigate a staggering 3,000 cases of financial crimes across the country to combat malfeasance.
In a statement obtained by Xinhua on Sunday, Ola Olukoyede, chief of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the 3,000 cases approved for investigation were part of the over 5,000 petitions received by EFCC.
The cases marked for investigation span a wide array of financial misdeeds, including fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, and cybercrimes, Olukoyede noted.
Lamenting the pervasive corruption in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, the anti-corruption official said: “The EFCC has innovated mechanisms to either stop or minimize the stealing of public funds and other financial and economic crimes.”
“All we have to do is investigate and present the facts before the court,” he said, emphasizing the collective responsibility of citizens to support the government’s fight against corruption.
In recent years, the commission has intensified its efforts to enhance its investigative capabilities and streamline its operations, having adopted modern investigative techniques and forged partnerships with international law enforcement agencies to effectively tackle transnational financial crimes.
Founded in 2003, the anti-graft police operates is vested with broad powers to combat financial malfeasance and promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
