Ribadu cautions against removing NFIU from EFCC
AFormer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, has cautioned against separating the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from the EFCC.
He spoke yesterday at an Anti-corruption Situation Room, organised by the HEDA Resource Centre in Abuja.
Ribadu said the plan would create a setback in the country’s anti-corruption drive.
While disclosing that the NFIU was conceived and nursed by the EFCC, he explained that the unit achieved its milestones due to the institutional backing and enforcement given to it by the EFCC.
According to him, the EFCC used the NFIU in putting Nigeria back on the global financial map.
He said: “What we did with the NFIU was to bring Nigeria at par with the rest of the world in terms of financial regulations and tracing of suspicious deals.”
The EX-EFCC boss said former Education Minister, Obiageli Ezekwesili, was the first to draw attention to Nigeria’s negative rating by the Egmont group, and what was needed to address it.
He disclosed that the EFCC engaged the Financial Action Task Force and made efforts to comply with the requirements, including instituting the NFIU.
LAGOS State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday solicited the support of religions leaders to ensure peace and development.
He made the appeal at the first quarterly meeting of Lagos State National Interreligious Council (NIREC). He expressed appreciation that the state has not witnessed any religious crisis, due to their support and cooperation.
Represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Abdulhakeem Abdulateef, he urged them to work with him, so that peace would continue to reign in the state.
The governor also appealed to the leaders to sensitise their members and residents to support the Land Use Charge (LUC).
He asked residents to participate in the public hearing to review the Act, so that their positions could be reflected.
Speaking on behalf of the leaders, the Chairman, Lagos State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Co-chairman of NIREC, Apostle Alexandra Bamgbola, commended the body for the peace in the state.
Also, Co-chairman of NIREC, Alhaji Yussuf Tajudeen, noted that if NIREC at the national level had been functioning, there would not be Boko Haram crisis in the country.
Meanwhile, civil society groups yesterday protested at the Lagos House, Ikeja, against the purported plan to privatise the state’s Water Corporation.
They condemned the plan to install water-metering facilities in homes, factories and offices.
Civil rights activist and member of the Joint Action Front, Achike Chude, a representative of the African Women Wash Net, Mrs. Fehintola MacauleyOdumosu and others, staged the protest to mark the World Water Day, with the theme: ‘Nature for Water.’
Meanwhile, the state
AKWA Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel will today commission the new headquarters of Akwa Savings and Loans Limited in Uyo, the state capital.
A statement by the Company Secretary, Abasiama Idiong, said the commissioning would hold at Plot 1, Block I, Federal Housing Estate, by Esuene Street, Uyo.
“The new office building is part of Emmanuel’s efforts in repositioning the mortgage bank to meet the current competitive market,” the statement said.