The chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, said Tuesday that bankers operating in the country must declare their assets before June 2021 in accordance with the provisions of Bank Employees Declaration of Asset Act.
Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammed Buhari.
“Going forward, we are going on to do our best to ensure that this country is free of financial crimes. Let me just put this, we understood that at the tail end of every financial crime is for the criminal to have access to the funds that he or she has illegitimately gotten, and we’re worried about the roles of financial institutions.
“And we have discussed, but we hope that all financial institutions, particularly the bankers, will declare their assets as provided for by the law, in accordance with the Bank Employees Declaration of Asset Act. And that the EFCC, come the 1st of June 2021, will be demanding for these asset declaration forms filled by the bankers so that the line that we have drawn from the 1st of June is really complied with by bankers in particular,” he said.
The EFCC chairman also spoke on why the commission concentrates on chasing cyber criminals, saying their activities are chasing away investors and giving the country a bad name and image.
“The issue of cybercrime is a huge problem for this country. In the last one month, we have arrested about 300 cyber criminals across the country and it was reported in the media. It is something that I am particularly worried about.
“As a young man, I am appealing to all young Nigerians to desist from these cybercrime activities. It is bringing a bad image to our country, it is giving a bad name to our country, it is also chasing away a lot of foreign investment that we need.
“And I call on all parents, guardians, and, of course, elders in the community, in the society to talk to these young people to desist from these crimes.
“These are crimes that they commit online. And of course, there is nothing like patting your back to say go and sin no more. Our laws do not provide for that. It is a crime and as we say in EFCC, EFCC will get you anywhere, anytime,” he said.
The EFCC chairman said he is working towards a new EFCC that would be different in terms of the way it investigates, prosecutes and generally carries out its mandate.
