The Acting Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu has assured Nigerians in the diaspora of business protection at home, stressing that local fraudsters frustrating diasporans from investing in Nigeria would henceforth be dealt with.
Magu spoke on Saturday, May 22, 2020 during a Virtual Town Hall Meeting, an interaction with Nigerians in Diaspora, anchored in London by the Host/Moderator of the group, Prince Ade Omole.
In a release signed by the Head, Media and Publicity of the Commission, Dele Oyewale, made available to ABN TV on Sunday, Magu said the EFCC is aware of the frustration, uncertainties and risks, local fraudsters are posing to credible businessmen and women abroad, who wish to invest in the Nigerian economy. “The EFCC is ready to offer intelligence services to anyone seeking genuine business partners in Nigeria”, he said.
Explaining further, the EFCC’s boss said that, ” profiles of potential business partners in Nigeria would be obtained and delivered to the foreign- based investors and this would assist them in taking decisions on whom to partner with locally. We can also offer intelligence on any line of business desired by the Nigerian in the diaspora. We are ready to do all these to encourage credible and serious investors who do not want to be defrauded by fraudsters at home”.
Magu charged Nigerians in the diaspora to avail themselves of these opportunities and bring more investments into the local economy. He also tasked them to support the anti- graft war, by exposing foreign assets of local politicians by taking advantage of the government’s whistle- blowing policy. “The EFCC needs collaborative engagements with you all”, he said.
He wants diasporans to put more pressure on authorities and governments in their countries of residence to prosecute corrupt Nigerians hiding in their domain. He expressed displeasure over the continued difficulties being faced by the EFCC to bring former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison- Madueke to trial, stressing that Nigerians in the United Kingdom should form pressure groups to demand her trial.
“Nigerians in the United Kingdom need to collaborate with the EFCC more and pressure the authorities there to assist the EFCC in bringing Diezani to trial. Does it not bother Nigerians in that country that Diezani has not been brought to trial for the heinous allegations of corruption against her in Nigeria? The public ownership of the fight against corruption should not be limited to Nigerians at home, we must all come forward, wherever we are, to insist that corrupt practices must not continue”, he said.
“He gave accounts of the painstaking works of the EFCC in the areas of convictions and recoveries and assured them, that the Commission is on course in the pursuit of its assigned mandate. “We are on course. In 2020 alone, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have secured 213 convictions already. This shows the commitment we are putting into the work”, he said.
“In response, participants at the Conference, numbering over 500, drawn from Europe, Asia, Africa, South and North America and other parts of the world, commended the EFCC for its robust and gallant fights against economic and financial crimes. One of the conferees, Professor Adebisi Adewole of the University of Scotland, commended Magu and the EFCC for working tirelessly to rid Nigeria of corrupt practices. He charged the EFCC to continue on its winning streaks and mobilised youths to steer clear of economic crimes.
“Another conferee, Ambassador Lekan Idowu from Russia, expressed satisfaction with the performance of Magu and the EFCC, saying that Nigerians in the diaspora would not relent in its support for the EFCC” the statement read.
