Date Published: 08/16/09
Clinton ’s comment misinformed –EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has described as unfortunate and a misinformed opinion the comment of the United State Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, that the anti-graft agency has fallen off.
According to a statement by the Commission at the weekend, “the EFCC has chosen to put the record straight following series of public enquiries as to the authenticity of Mrs. Clinton’s claim. We wish to state that the impression created by her statement that the Commission has not done much in the last one year is not only misleading but a contradiction of the records of activities within the same period.
“While no one can disprove the fact that Nigeria has a problem of corruption like other nations, it is really unfortunate for anyone to put the blame on the EFCC or impute that the Commission has not been doing anything.
“For the records, the EFCC has in the past 12 months secured about 70 convictions and recovered funds in excess of N50 billion. Currently, we have over 40 cases of politically exposed persons (PEPs) charged to court including three former governors, four ex-ministers, a senator, three house of representatives members and a top chieftain of the ruling PDP among others. This is in addition to over 400 cases all taken to court within the same period. Our activities also cut across all parts and sectors of Nigeria; from former governors to ex-ministers, bank executives, heads of federal and state parastatals, local council chairmen, political party leaders, Nigerians and foreigners alike.
“If this is the record which can be verified by anyone, we are therefore not surprised that the American official’s position must have been informed by the well funded propaganda machinery and mega-phone of falsehood of some foreign based disgruntled elements who have built heavy war chest and can afford to spread falsehood in connivance with their die-hard cronies at home, rather than empirical facts and figures.
“We have also not hidden our challenges from Nigerians especially in regard to prosecution and conviction of PEPs, but this is certainly what should be of concern to all stakeholders and genuine lovers of our country, with a view to asking the right questions from the right quarters and coming up with solutions rather than directing a misplaced aggression at one single level in a chain of collaboration.”
Femi Babafemi
Head, Media & Publicity
15/8/2009
