Stakeholders Looks To Use FOI Act To Force EFCC To Disclose Details Of Recovered Funds

Stakeholders have disclosed plans to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to disclose the details of funds that it has recovered from alleged corrupt officials.

The Nigeria National Summit Group (NNSG), which disclosed this in a statement, said it would invoke the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to actualise the demand.The statement by the NNSG’s Executive Director, Mr Tony Uranta yesterday said it would compel the EFCC to release an interim audit report of all the recovered funds from the time of its immediate past chairman, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde to the present.

Also pressing for the disclosure was the former National Secretary of Labour Party (LP), Mr Kayode Ajulo.Ajulo said the EFCC was not under any oath of secrecy to justify its withholding of information on the details of recovered loots.

While it reaffirmed its support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war, the NNSG cautioned that the fight must not be selective.Uranta called for a diligent investigation and the rule of law in its anti-corruption pursuit, citing the losses by the EFCC in four major court cases that involved suspected corrupt officials.

According to the NNSG: “The media trial, including the recent propaganda by the EFCC regarding some recovered funds, has been woven around unverified facts. This situation has also encouraged defamatory publications and falsehoods, as well as inflaming public passion.”

The summit group cautioned government agencies and the media against publishing or broadcasting sensational information, in order not to cause a social disturbance in the country.

Source: Premium