The Foundation for Civilian Peace in Niger Delta, FCPND, has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for “its relentless fight against Economic and Financial Crimes in Nigeria”.
The commendation was given on Thursday, September 12, 2019 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State when officials of the group paid a Courtesy Visit to the Zonal Head of the EFCC in Port Harcourt, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Commander of FCPND, Chief Joseph Ijede, said that it was heart- warming that the EFCC had become the dread and terror of criminal elements across the country stressing that “the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom for the criminal gangs in our midst”.
Besides, he appreciated the consistent successes of the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the EFCC in giving illegal oil bunkerers a run. According to him, the menaces of oil theft and illegal dealing in petroleum products have brought stagnation and under- development to the Niger Delta region and the EFCC has been actively working to reverse the untoward circumstance.
“I, therefore, commend men and women of the EFCC Port Harcourt Zone for its innovation and diligence under the leadership of the Acting Executive Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, in the fight against corruption and to see that the country is free from crime”, he said.
Ijede expressed willingness of his group to work with the EFCC in restoring normalcy and development to the Niger Delta region. “We are here today to formalise and strengthen our cooperation in reducing to the barest minimum oil theft; oil bunkering; pipeline/oil facility vandalism; cybercrime, money laundering and economic sabotage”, he said.
In his response, Bawa thanked the FCPND for seeking partnership with the EFCC in the fight against corruption and making sure that the country is free from crime and criminality.
According to him, the establishment of the Zonal Office within the Niger Delta Region is to bring the Commission closer to the people and also bolster the fight against economic and financial crimes, most importantly, Illegal oil bunkering and oil theft.
“We have been working tirelessly with other stakeholders. I’m here in the Niger Delta to see that those that are perpetrating criminality face justice and justice is well served”, he said.
He assured the FCPND that the EFCC was ready and would continue to synergise to ensure that the issue of Illegal oil bunkering/theft is brought to the barest minimum. “The EFCC will carry you along, we are going to partner/synergise with you and relate to the appropriate authority that there is a Foundation like yours that is working”, he said
In another vein, the Zonal head encouraged FCPND to tell its members to take advantage of the Whistle Blowing Policy of the government. “The Whistle Blowing policy is still on for Nigerians who want to blow the Whistle”, he stressed.
Bawa used the occasion to thank all stakeholders: the Nigerian Army/ Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) who are supporting the EFCC in the fight against oil bunkering/theft within the Niger Delta. “We have achieved a lot and we thank all stakeholders. We have succeeded in prosecuting over 100 cases of oil theft in the EFCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office”, he said