The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has emphasized the detrimental effects of illegal mining and cybercrime on the local and national economy, citing non-payment of royalties, taxes, and other dues as major concerns. The Acting Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol, represented by the Zonal Head, Mr. Micheal Nzekwe, made these statements during a Day Workshop organized by the commission for journalists in Kwara.
The workshop, titled “Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes,” was held at the Ilorin Zonal Command on Thursday, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Mr. Chukkol highlighted the prevalence of cybercrime, especially among undergraduates and recent graduates of tertiary institutions. He assured that the commission has been actively combating these criminal activities and will continue to enforce existing laws against illegal mining.
“Our work is challenging due to the commission’s ongoing fight against corrupt practices, evident through our impressive records of convictions, asset forfeitures, and other tangible accomplishments over the years,” stated Mr. Chukkol.
He also acknowledged the demanding nature of reporting on economic and financial crimes, emphasizing that the EFCC’s work is constantly evolving, requiring journalists to keep pace with their speed and energy. Recognizing these challenges, the commission initiated the workshop to strengthen collaboration and foster a more engaging relationship with the media.
Mr. Chukkol urged Nigerians not to wait until they suffer losses due to economic and financial crimes before taking action against corrupt practices, as they pose a threat to both individual and corporate progress.
“We don’t only suffer losses when we become victims of these crimes but also face limitations when our neighbors, colleagues, institutions, and nation fall prey to them,” he warned.
The EFCC chairman called upon journalists to demonstrate patriotism, asserting that they have an obligation to expose all forms of shady and criminal activities through their reporting.
“Journalism is the best gateway to whistle-blowing, and I urge the media to invest more time, energy, and commitment into exposing fraudulent activities in our midst,” he emphasized.
During one of the presentations titled “New trends in cybercrime: How not to become a victim,” Alex Ocheme from the EFCC shared alarming statistics, revealing that cybercrime has already depleted over $8 trillion of hard-earned finances worldwide. Ocheme pointed out that legal complications hinder cross-border corruption investigations in the fight against cybercrime.
Furthermore, he highlighted that not all African countries have enacted cybercrime laws, making it impossible to compel those countries to prosecute corruption offenders, thereby resulting in unrecoverable stolen funds.
“Each nation has the right to its own laws, and they are not necessarily designed to collaborate with you. Some countries are eager to assist in the war against cybercrime, while others are not,” Ocheme explained.
The workshop witnessed the participation of journalists from various media platforms, including print, television, radio stations, and online publishers in Ilorin.
Comments are closed.