Tinubu charges EFCC to sustain fight against Internet fraud 

President Bola Tinubu has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to keep its flames burning against the scourge of internet crimes and other acts of corruption.

He gave the charge through Vice President Kashim Shettima, in Abuja on Wednesday, at a one-day public engagement on youth, religion and the fight against corruption and the launch of the Fraud Risk Assessment Project for Ministries, Departments and Agencies, organised by the EFCC.

He noted that the disturbing contagion of cybercrimes has been a challenge and slur on the image of the nation and the EFCC should spare no effort in tackling it more frontally.

He said, “Our country is not a nation of fraudsters and the pejorative reference to internet crimes as the ‘Nigerian scam’ across the world is unfair, untenable and unacceptable. Cybercrimes are a global phenomenon. Today’s world is run in real-time on the internet.

“Governance, businesses, institutions and even individual domestic affairs are dependent on the Internet. Cybercriminals are, therefore, a threat to the rest of the world. This is why no effort or expense should be spared in confronting the evil. I want to assure the EFCC that the government will continue to offer its support in its quest to kill the dragon that internet offences have become”, he added.

Speaking on behalf of the President, Shettima further expressed the federal government’s determination to give corruption hard tackles.

He noted, “We cannot be focused on growth and development and at the same time offer any breathing space to corrupt practices.  No nation grows without breaking the fangs of corruption. The EFCC has been duly instructed to do its job at all times without any extraneous considerations. The Renewed Hope agenda of our government is impervious to corruption. We should all join hands together to move Nigeria in a new direction of purpose.

“We are aware of all the foul cries and unwarranted accusations against the lawful efforts of the Commission to bring fraudsters to book.  We cannot fold our hands and watch our youths descend into morbid criminalities”.

In his remark, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef  Fagbemi urged the EFCC to intensify its preventive method which according to him is cheaper and easier to prevent crimes.

Fagbemi said, “I believe that concerted efforts should be channelled towards the preventive aspect of the commission’s mandate as it is cheaper and easier to prevent crimes. The Commission’s mandate is beyond the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes which it has over the years pursued vigorously. The cost of investigating and prosecuting all species of financial crimes will significantly reduce with adequate preventive measures in place.”

The event, which was marked with the relaunch and unveiling of EFCC’s Interfaith Manuals and Fraud Risk Assessment Project for MDAs, and was well-attended by various political, religious, traditional leaders, including youth groups, academia, civil society organisations, anti-corruption agencies, among others.