In a bid to further sanitize the financial sector, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has charged compliance officers of banks in the zone which comprises Edo, Delta, Ondo and Anambra states to collaborate with the EFCC in tackling economic and Financial crimes.
At the inaugural meeting with the compliance officers of banks, Mailafia Yakubu, the head of operation, Benin Zonal Office of the EFCC said that it became imperative due to the unscrupulous activities of some bankers who connived with fraudsters to defraud innocent people of their hard earned money.
Yakubu noted that there have been cases in the past where bank officials deliberately ignored EFCC’s Post No Debit, PND, orders on suspects account or inform suspect about the PND to enable them make withdrawals using their ATM cards.
He further charged the bankers to uphold the tenet and principles of banking as making excuses after an offence had been committed will not be condoned.
“I am not here to intimidate anyone but to seek for your support in curbing corruption. Whatever I do will be according to the law. Corruption is a cankerworm that is threatening our existence as a nation.
“The earlier we join hands to deal with it, the better for us all.”
In his response, Emmanuel Obanla, Compliance Officer, First Bank of Nigeria, commended the EFCC for the initiative. He said the banks were willing to work with the Commission to ensure a seamless relationship so that corruption can be fought to a stand still.
The The Operations Department of the EFCC is the hub of all investigation activities of the Commission. It has responsibility for the investigation of all cases that fall within the mandate of the Commission. Such cases include infractions that are contrary to the provisions of the Commission’s enabling law; the EFCC Act 2004 as well as a posse of other laws which the Commission has direct responsibility for their enforcement.
The Operations Department comprises the sections ranging from Advance Fee Fraud, Bank Fraud, Economic Governance,Counter- Terrorism and General Investigation
