From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
In an effort to combat money laundering and cybercrime in Nigeria, Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol, the Acting Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has reached out to the media for support.
He made this appeal on Thursday during a media training event organised by the commission in Ibadan. The workshop, titled: ‘Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes,’ was put together to equip journalists with the necessary tools to report on financial crimes more effectively.
Chukkol, who was represented by Halima Rufa’u, the Acting Commander of the Ibadan Zonal Office, emphasised that the media’s assistance would play a crucial role in reducing money laundering and cybercrime in the country.
He expressed concern over the involvement of young people in cybercrime within the zone, despite the enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns carried out by the commission.
Chukkol also stated that ignorance of the law would not be an acceptable excuse for engaging in corrupt practices or money laundering activities. He affirmed the EFCC’s commitment to ensuring that those who illicitly enrich themselves at the expense of the public would face justice.
The EFCC chairman urged the media to align itself with the collective aspirations of Nigerians to curb corruption to the barest minimum, if it cannot eliminate it entirely. He called on journalists to educate politicians’ family members and friends about the risks and legal consequences of participating in money laundering activities.
Under the Money Laundering Act 2022, family members and close associates of politicians and public office holders, including top civil servants, are now classified as Politically Exposed Persons, he said.
Chukkol stressed the importance of robust regulation of entities vulnerable to money laundering and highlighted the role of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) in the fight against illicit financial flows.
“I would like the media to educate family members, friends of politicians and others holding political offices not to participate in money laundering activities. They should be told that they run the risk of going to jail if they allow their companies or bank accounts to be used to launder proceeds of illegal activities.
“Under the Money Laundering Act 2022, family members and close allies of politicians, public office holders, including top civil servants, are now classified as Politically Exposed Persons,” he said.
Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the Deputy Commander of EFCC and the commission’s spokesperson, appealed to the media to help raise awareness among youths about the dangers of internet-related fraud. He added that the training workshop was designed to enhance journalists’ skills in reporting on financial crimes, recognising their strategic role in the fight against corruption.
“The decision to engage you all in a training session is buoyed by the appreciation of the fact that you occupy a strategic place in the fight against corruption,” he said.
During the workshop, Mr. Larry Aso, an Assistant Commander of EFCC, emphasised the collective responsibility in preventing and combating money laundering as outlined in the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. He encouraged individuals and corporate bodies to familiarise themselves with the act’s guidelines to protect themselves from becoming victims or aiders and abettors of money laundering.
Additionally, Mr Dele Oyewale, another Assistant Commander of EFCC, called on journalists to embrace investigative journalism to pursue stories that benefit society, saying they should be enterprising and courageous, attract funding, and leverage social media platforms for investigative reporting.
To address the growing threat of cybercrime, Mrs Taibat Sallahdeen, a Chief Superintendent of EFCC, cautioned the public to be vigilant against fraudulent activities online. She advised people to avoid unsecured websites without HTTPS and to safeguard their personal information from criminals.