The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Friday officially assumed duties and unveiled new anti-graft strategies.
He said the EFCC would now engage in proactive and intelligence-led investigation.
He said he would create a full-fledged directorate of intelligence that would spearhead intelligence gathering.
He also said he would ensure that the operation of the commission is digitalised.
Bawa, who unveiled his plans after taking over from the immediate past Acting Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Umar Abba, said the EFCC would fight corruption to a standstill.
He said: “We are going to digitalise our processes, and we are going to create a new full-fledged directorate of intelligence to enable us gather intelligence so that we will be proactive in our fight against economic and financial crimes; and by so doing, we will also provide the government with necessary quality advice that will lead to good governance.
“There is difference between fighting corruption and fighting corrupt people; and going forward, we are going to be proactive in our approach in the fight against economic and financial crimes.”
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Bawa assured stakeholders of continued partnership.
He added: “For our strategic partners across the shores of this country, we will continue to work together with you.
“We will continue to share intelligence, to see that the stolen wealth of this country is returned for the betterment of us all.
“But all of these, we will be doing it the way the EFCC is known to be doing its things.
“The provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, extant laws of the country have always been and will always be our guide.”
The chairman also pledged to prioritise staff welfare and ask the government for necessary support.
“We know the problems and, God willing, we are going to solve these problems,” he said.
In his handing over remarks, the outgoing Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mohammed Umar Abba, congratulated Bawa for a well-deserved appointment and wished him well in his new assignment.
He said: “I am particularly delighted to be handing over the affairs of the Commission to Bawa.
“He is an officer with whom I have enjoyed close working relationship and who contributed immensely to our collective efforts in the war against economic and financial crimes.
“I have no doubt that he will do well and enjoin all staff to accord him the same support that I have received over the last seven months.”
Umar, who also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving him the opportunity to lead the commission in acting capacity, disclosed that under his watch, the Commission prosecuted 804 cases and obtained a total of 583 convictions.
He added that substantial recovery running into billions of naira was made, while various assets were equally forfeited through interim or final Order of Court.
