….Law enforcement is not witch craft.
The Zonal Head, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC in charge of Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe States DCDS Michael Wetkas, has disclosed how the zone stopped an outing governor in the zone from embezzling 11.5 Billion Naira, 11 hours to handing over he stated this at a walk to commemorate African Anti Corruption Day in Gombe state, with the theme “Towards a Common African Position on Asset Recovery”.
Wetkas, Said “You know as well as I do know that one of the biggest problem we have in Nigeria is corruption. “It has been the bane of our under development, cause of unemployment, cause of decay of our infrastructure, it is above all the cause of National Insecurity.
“You may have your doubts but the facts are there. Africa as a continent loses 50 Billion annually. Nigeria as a country from independence to 2012, as the time this report was revealed has lost over 400Billion Dollars. “As a result of these starkly report that was declared in Maputo,Mozambique, in 2003. “To prevent and combat corruption. “President Muhammadu Buhari, in line with his fight against corruption started a campaign since his first term in office on Repatriation of funds stolen from Nigeria. “There is a conscious effort by stakeholders to adopt a white paper. We want to raise the consciousness and urge every citizen to be part the anti corruption campaign, When you see something, Say something, it is your duty to say something, Law enforcement is not witch craft.
Wetkas, used the opportunity to deliver diverted Relief materials back to Internally Displaced persons in Gombe state he said ” you see those relief materials there, they are the products of someone that saw something and he chose to say something. “As a zone, from January to date we have secured 55 convictions, Over 90 million worth of recoveries, 11 interim forfeited property, 2 already forfeited to the federal government for some of us aware of criminal justice system it is not a mere fit. “We received an Intel that one of the out going governor within our zone the following day, eleven hours to go to the end of his tenure, they had perfected plans to spend 11.5 Billion Naira. “The Intel was received in the night, early in the morning we got the account frozen and we are yet to unfreeze it, until we are sure government funds are safe. “It is not our responsibility to stop government from spending but once there is such information, we ensure it doesn’t happen.
“As a zone, we will like to warn that Anchor borrower scheme, has become a conduit of corruption, Cooperative society , employment scam, counterfeiting of currency, Land Racketeering have become means of extorting money from innocent farmers ” Wetkas added.
Dr. Anas Kubalu, lecturer department of Economics Federal University of Kashere, called for special court to try corruption cases. He said “The anti corruption campaign is a joint one, but for it to be most effective, I will suggest special court that will try corruption cases” he noted.
The walk had the presence of NYSC corps members, Civil societies and labour unions in the state.
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