- * As EFCC Warns Whistleblowers
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CeleOkaf11
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Office, on Thursday, March 18, 2021, arraigned the trio of Theophilus Omambala, Lawal Umar, and Alexander Danjuma before Justice Musa Usman of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Bwari, Abuja on one count charge bordering on false and misleading information.
The charge reads, “that you Theophilus Omambala sometime in 2021at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, gave false information to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that monies were stashed at the residence of one Audu Innocent Ogbeh located at Lugbe District of the FCT, which information turned out to be false, untrue and misleading and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 39(2) (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act (2004)”.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them. In view of their plea, the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Bokani Usman asked the Court for a trial date and that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kuje.
Counsel to the defendants, A.I. Na-jirgi prayed the Court to grant his clients bail. The judge rejected his oral application, insisting on a formal bail application which should be filed before the next adjourned date.
The defendants have been remanded in the Kuje Custodial Centre pending the determination of bail application. The case has been adjourned till June 21, 2021.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has expressed concern about the activities of supposed whistleblowers who mislead the agency through false information. The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Abdurasheed Bawa, said despite due diligence by the EFCC, scarce investigative resources have been wasted by the agency in following up false leads that frequently come to a dead end.
He said the activities of false whistleblowers detract from the noble intendment of the Whistleblower Policy of the Federal Government which seeks to incentivize information leading to the recovery of stolen wealth.
Noting that the Whistleblower Policy was not designed as a tool for unscrupulous citizens to send law enforcement agencies on wild goose chase or set them against their perceived enemies, he vowed that the EFCC will not hesitate to prosecute any whistleblower who willfully provides the agency with false information.
He, however, reiterated the Commission’s preparedness to work with genuine whistleblowers and acknowledged the breakthroughs which the EFCC recorded in its assets recovery drive, using information supplied by whistleblowers.
He advised genuine informants to be cautious and ensure that they have accurate information before engaging with the agency.
Bawa assured that the Directorate of Intelligence which was recently created will henceforth ensure that all information received by the EFCC is subjected to rigorous due diligence before action is taken. NNL.
