EFCC HOLDS ONE-DAY WORKSHOP WITH JOURNALISTS IN KADUNA ON EFFECTIVE REPORTING IN ECONOMIC CRIMES .... Describes The Media As "The Social Bishop" Of The Society."

ACEI Aisha Abubakar
Acting Zonal Commander
Kaduna Zonal Command, EFCC.

"All over the world, the watchdog role of the media has been helpful for transparent and accountable governance. The analytical lens of the media has been helpful in reducing, if not eliminating, impunity from the public and private sectors." Abdulkarim Chukkol MON, EFCC acting Executive Chairman.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in its determination to further create a sustainable awareness and sensitization drive on the fight against corruption and other vices that impede the economic well being of the country, on Wednesday 30 August, 2023, held a One-Day Workshop for Journalists in Kaduna.

The theme of the workshop; "Effective Reporting of Economic Crimes" drew attendance from media practitioners within the state.

In his goodwill message to the attendees, the acting Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulkarim Chukkol, MON, CFE, fwc, described journalists as important stakeholders in the anti-corruption fight while also noting that, meetings such as this have always accorded him the opportunity to reinforce the collective strengths of media partners and collaborators to achieve socially-beneficial objectives.

ACEI Aisha Abubakar Acting Zonal Commander, Kaduna Zonal Command

Represented at the workshop by ACEI Aisha Abubakar, Acting Zonal Commander, Kaduna Zonal Command of the Agency, the EFCC chairman stressed that, "for us at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the traditional roles of the media to inform, educate and entertain are dear to us. These roles have become the defining yardstick of measuring the quality of governance, effectiveness of public policy, and the relevance of institutions to society. Against this background, I can be permitted to refer to the media as the "social bishop" of the society through its crusading , oversight and agenda-setting works."

"All over the world, the watchdog role of the media has been helpful for transparent and accountable governance. The analytical lens of  the media has been helpful in reducing, if not eliminating, impunity from the public and private sectors." He stated.

Mr. Chukkol, in his address, stressed that, "We cannot overemphasize the effects of of economic and financial crimes on individuals, institutions and nations. The rising cases of internet crimes in the Kaduna environment is worrisome." 

Wilson Uwujaren
EFCC Spokesman

He disclosed that "reports from this axis of the country are pointing towards active involvement of youths in this nefarious crime. Apart from denying victims of their hard-earned money, their activities have the tendency to smear the image of the nation and discourage hard work and legitimate engagements."

Chukkol stressed that "unemployment and economic challenges should bit be excuses for any form of Criminality."

R-L Hajia Asimau Yawo Halilu
Chairman NUJ Kaduna chapter, Uwujaren (middle) & ACEI Aisha Abubakar, Acting Zonal Commander, Kaduna 

The workshop proper had three papers, namely; "Challenges of Prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes by ACEII Moses Aruremi (Legal & Prosecution, Kaduna Zonal Command), "Investigative Journalism and Nigeria's Fight Against Money Laundering" by ACE I Dele Oyewole, an accomplished Investigative Journalist who provided an in-depth and very insightful lecture and lastly, "Trends, Peculiarities and Challenges of Cybercrime Enforcement In Nigeria, by CSE Nurudeen Bello, (Head Cybercrime, Kaduna Zonal Command). 

Responding to questions on prosecution, ACEII Moses Aruremi, Legal and Prosecution disclosed that the Agency has provided ample training for its well trained lawyers to handle cases within its purview, with several of these cases riding up to the Supreme Court. 

Addressing questions bordering on compromise, Aruremi stressed that compromise most definitely does not arise from EFCC but defense counsels who usually adopt moves to compromise cases. On issues of delayed cases and speedy trials, Aruremi stated that the EFCC does not own the courts as judges determine their own approaches. This, he said, forms the push for the establishment of Anti-corruption Courts that will enable the agency outside speedy conclusion of corruption cases.

On investigation, Aruremi stressed that investigation has no time limits as it is based on facts and figures while also lamenting that the agency has, over time, lost personnel. 

"Preliminary investigation is key and therefore, it is not possible to arrest without investigation," he stated.

ACEI Dele Oyewole responding to questions

Speaking on Investigative Journalism, ACE II Dele Oyewole expressed concerns about the standard of journalism in today's Nigeria noting that Journalists are not celebrated due to the fact that practitioners have departed from the ground norms.

He enjoined practitioners to redevelop themselves and engage in investigation, analytical reporting, practical identification, objective and passionate report for the over all good of the society.

Cross section of participants at the One-Day Workshop

He also spoke on the fight against money laundering, saying that the concealment of illicit funds and the integration of such funds into society involved three steps, namely; Placement, Layering and Integration. 

Group photograph

Wilson Uwujaren, Spokesperson of the Commission however took out time to further throw in enlightenment into some of the questions and comments by the participants which elicited applause as he engaged participants in quality discuss.