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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
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Common nameThe EFCC
AbbreviationEFCC
Agency overview
Formed2003; 21 years ago (2003)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionNigeria
Legal jurisdictionEconomic and financial crimes
Governing bodyPresident of Nigeria
Constituting instrument
  • EFCC Establishment Act 2004
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Serious or complex fraud, commercial crime, fraud covering multiple lower level jurisdictions.
Operational structure
HeadquartersPlot 301/302,
Institution and Research Cadastral District,
Jabi,
Abuja,
Federal Capital Territory
Agency executive
Website
https://www.efcc.gov.ng

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a Nigerian law enforcement and anti-graft agency that investigates financial crimes and unknown transactions such as advance fee fraud (419 fraud) and money laundering.[1] The EFCC was established in 2003, partially in response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF),[2] which named Nigeria as one of 23 countries non-cooperative in the international community's efforts to fight money laundering.[1] The agency has its head office in Abuja, Nigeria. The EFCC was also set up to fight against corruption and protect the country from economic saboteurs.

History

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was established on December 12, 2002, by President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration to combat financial crimes and money laundering. The commission's creation was partly in response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Money Laundering, which had ranked Nigeria as one of 23 non-cooperative countries. However, on April 13, 2003, the EFCC commenced operational activities under Nuhu Ribadu as the pioneer Executive Chairman. Under Nuhu Ribadu, the agency addressed financial corruption by prosecuting and convicting a number of high-profile corrupt individuals, ranging from Nigeria's former chief law enforcement officer to several bank chief executives. By 2005, the EFCC arrested government officials including Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.[3][4]

In September 2006, the EFCC had 31 of Nigeria's 36 state governors under investigation for corruption.[5] In December 2007, the Nigerian Federal Government, after extensive investigations by EFCC and other organisations, cleared the Vaswani Brothers[6] of any wrongdoing and invited them back into the country. Leading Nigerian daily This Day and other major newspapers reported the facts of their clearance quoting text from FG issued directives. In April 2008, the EFCC began an investigation of the very influential daughter of a former Nigerian President, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello for receiving N10 million ($100,000), stolen from the Ministry of Health. The former Health Minister (Professor Adenike Grange) and her deputy were tried for stealing over N30,000,000 ($300,000) from the ministry's unspent funds from a year before.[7]

On June 6, 2008, Chief (Mrs) Farida Mzamber Waziri was sworn in as the new chairperson of the EFCC.[1] Then on the 6th of August 2008, the former chairman Nuhu Ribadu was demoted from Assistant Inspector General (AIG) to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).[8]

On September 14, 2010, the head of the Forensic Unit of the EFCC, Abdullahi Muazu, was assassinated in Kaduna. He had been actively involved in the trials of several heads of banks.[9]

Waziri was dismissed by President Goodluck Jonathan on 23 November 2011 and replaced by Ibrahim Lamorde as Acting Chairman, who was confirmed on the 15 February 2012 by the Nigerian Senate.[10]

Ibrahim Lamorde was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 9, 2015, and replaced with Ibrahim Magu. The Nigerian Senate refused to confirm Magu as chairman of the agency twice due to security reports by law enforcement agencies in the country.[11]

On July 6, 2020, Magu was arrested by operatives of the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police Force and driven to the Aso Villa where he was made to answer questions on alleged corruption against him.[12][13] He was detained overnight and on July 7 was suspended from his position as chairman of the agency pending the completion of the investigation.

On July 10, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the immediate suspension of Ibrahim Magu as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)[14] in a statement issued by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. President Muhammadu Buhari also approved that the EFCC Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar Abba, should take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission[15][16] pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives. On 16 February 2021 Abdulrasheed Bawa was nominated as substantive chairman of EFCC by President Muhammad Buhari.[17][18]

The current chairman of EFCC is Ola Olukoyede, appointed by President Bola Tinubu on 12 October 2023[19]

In October 2024, the chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has challenged religious leaders in Nigeria to be more committed to the fight against corruption by preaching the right messages.[20]

Geographic structure

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Headquarters of the EFCC
Headquarters of the EFCC

The EFCC is structured into 15 zonal commands.

  • Corporate Headquarters
  • Abuja Zonal Command
  • Benin Zonal Command
  • Enugu Zonal Command
  • Gombe Zonal Command
  • Ibadan Zonal Command
  • Ilorin Zonal Command
  • Kaduna Zonal Command
  • Kano Zonal Command
  • Lagos Zonal Command
  • Maiduguri Zonal Command
  • Makurdi Zonal Command
  • Port Harcourt Zonal Command
  • Sokoto Zonal Command
  • Uyo Zonal Command

[21]

Eagle Eye app

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The Economic as Financial Crimes Commission launched an application on the 14th of July, 2021 called the "Eagle Eye App". The app was specifically crafted to simplify the process of reporting financial and economic crimes in Nigeria. The application is a clear demonstration of the EFCC's technology-driven efforts to facilitate public interaction.[22]

EFCC Academy

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Formerly known as the Training and Research Institute, the EFCC Academy was established in 2005 with the initial mandate of training and capacity development of the EFCC staff until 2012 when it role was expanded to other law enforcement agencies, security agencies and anti-corrupion bodies within and outside Nigeria. The EFCC Academy is located in Karu, Abuja.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Establishment Act". Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  2. ^ Kenton, Will. "Financial Action Task Force (FATF)". Investopedia. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  3. ^ "Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC - HISTORY OF EFCC".
  4. ^ "Nigeria arrests runaway governor". BBC. 9 December 2005. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  5. ^ "Nigeria governors in graft probe". BBC. 28 September 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  6. ^ "Court declares deportation of Vaswani brothers illegal". Vanguard News. November 4, 2009.
  7. ^ "Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange faces corruption probe | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  8. ^ "NUHU RIBADU: IS YARÁDUA LEADING A GOVERNMENT OR A GANG?". Nigeria World. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  9. ^ "Gunmen kill EFCC's forensic team leader in Kaduna". NEXT. 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  10. ^ "Waziri's Sack And The Future Of EFCC". P.M. News. November 28, 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
  11. ^ "Again, Senate rejects Magu as EFCC Chairman | Premium Times Nigeria". 2017-03-15. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  12. ^ "Answers to five big questions about Magu arrest and probe". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  13. ^ "How EFCC's Magu was arrested". 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  14. ^ "Buhari Affirms Magu's Suspension, Directs Mohammed Umar To Take Charge". Channels Television. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  15. ^ "EFCC picks Director of Operations, Umar to oversee commission". Vanguard News. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  16. ^ "Umar replaces Magu as EFCC chairman". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  17. ^ Adesomoju, Ade (16 February 2021). "Abdulrasheed Bawa to make history as EFCC chairman". premiumtimesng.cm. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Cross-examination of EFCC chairman stalled in alleged N761m subsidy fraud". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-11-01. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  19. ^ Olayiwola, Ajisafe (2023-10-12). "Meet new EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  20. ^ "EFCC Solicits Religious Leaders' Help In Fight Against Corruption - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA". 2024-10-05. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  21. ^ "Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC - EFCC ACADEMY".
  22. ^ "Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC - EAGLE EYE APP".
  23. ^ "Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC - EFCC ACADEMY".
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Press

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