From:Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conducted a one-day sensitization workshop for civil society organizations (CSOs) and journalists at the Commission’s Zonal Headquarters in Kaduna.
Opening the workshop, EFCC Executive Chairman Mr. Ola Olukoyede extended a warm welcome to the distinguished participants and expressed gratitude for their attendance.
Represented by the Acting Zonal Director, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, Mr. Olukoyede stated that civil society organizations serve as the conscience of society and are a vital bridge between the government and the citizenry.
He emphasized that journalists wield a mighty pen that shapes public opinion, holds power accountable, and exposes the dark corners where corruption thrives.
He highlighted the long-standing collaboration between the EFCC, the media, and CSOs, noting that many significant investigations have been made possible through the intelligence and information supplied by these partners.
The Acting Zonal Director reiterated that the fight against corruption is a collective national effort, requiring synergy, trust, and shared intelligence. “We view you not merely as observers or critics, but as partners in progress whose insights and networks enhance the reach and effectiveness of our mandate,” Kaltungo added.
He urged participants to utilize the workshop as a platform for open dialogue, questions, and sharing perspectives.
Zainab Sani Ahmed, Head of Public Affairs for the Kaduna Zonal Directorate, also welcomed participants on behalf of the Commission and outlined the day’s agenda, which included a detailed presentation on prosecuting economic and financial crimes.
Barrister Nasiru Salele, a principal presenter at the workshop, delivered an extensive paper titled “Prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes: Issues, Challenges, and the Way Forward.”
He began by defining economic and financial crimes as non-violent offenses that lead to financial loss or illicit gain through deception, breach of trust, or concealment. He cited Section 46 of the EFCC Act, which outlines a wide range of offenses—from fraud and money laundering to human trafficking and tax evasion—and referenced the judicial case Nwobike v. FRN (2022) to emphasize that each crime must be intended to illicitly acquire wealth to the detriment of another or the state.
Salele discussed the legal framework governing the EFCC, which includes the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act 2022, the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act 2022, and relevant sections of the Criminal and Penal Codes.
He outlined the basic forms of economic and financial crimes, including fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, embezzlement, narcotics trafficking, forgery, and other corrupt practices.
In discussing fundamental issues, Salele noted strategies that utilize globalization and technology to destabilize criminal networks, deprive perpetrators of their assets, and deter future offenses.
He highlighted strategic considerations, including conducting thorough investigations, determining involvement, establishing prima facie offenses, gathering evidence, assessing jurisdiction, and evaluating available resources.
The presentation then addressed the significant challenges in prosecuting these crimes, categorized as external and internal. External obstacles include unwarranted restraining orders, a shortage of specialized skills (such as forensic, cryptocurrency, and accounting expertise), evidentiary and legal hurdles, transactional and jurisdictional complexities, rapid technological evolution (particularly with crypto-assets), uncooperative judges, frequent judge transfers, high costs, the burden of proof, trial-within-trial procedures, and socio-cultural factors. Internal challenges include logistics, capacity building, personnel shortages, and inadequate working tools.
Salele proposed a way forward focused on technology, intelligence, and legal reform. He advocated for the adoption of AI-powered solutions to identify patterns, improve intelligence gathering, enhance digital forensics, and allocate sufficient resources to forensic capabilities.
He also recommended streamlining trial procedures, encouraging corporate self-reporting through Deferred Prosecution Agreements, strengthening international cooperation via Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs), reviewing the Detention and Trial (DTA) framework, and enhancing recruitment, deployment, and procurement of essential tools.
In his conclusion, Salele reiterated a three-pronged approach: adopting advanced technologies, reforming legal and policy frameworks to handle complex financial cases, and intensifying international collaboration. He closed with the thought, “The future of prosecuting economic and financial crimes will be defined by the ability of the justice system to adapt to the digital age.”
The workshop featured remarks from Tony Orilade, Head of the Public Interface Unit at the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission).
Orilade reminded participants of the Executive Chairman Olukoyede’s 2023 Senate confirmation pledge to prioritize the Commission’s preventive mandate, quoting Thomas Fuller: “Prevention is better than cure.”
He outlined the EFCC’s mission: “A Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes through prevention, enforcement, and coordination.” He also emphasized the Commission’s core values of integrity, courage, professionalism, and collaboration.
Orilade detailed the pivotal roles that the media and civil society organizations (CSOs) play in driving preventive frameworks, listing ten key functions: investigative journalism that exposes corruption, raising awareness about the impact of corruption, advocating for stronger anti-corruption laws, monitoring government spending and actions, and providing safe platforms for whistleblowers.
Others, according to him, include
Empowering citizens to participate in anti-corruption efforts, conducting research and analysis on corruption trends, building collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders, promoting transparency and demanding accountability, and holding leaders responsible for corrupt practices
He concluded that a strong preventive framework is only possible when the EFCC, the media, and CSOs work together with sincerity of purpose.
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