Nigerians abroad who intend to do business locally have been assured of protection of their investment against local fraudsters.
Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, gave the assurance on Saturday, May 23, 2020 during a Virtual Town Hall Meeting with Nigerians in Diaspora.
The meeting was anchored in London by Prince Ade Omole.
Magu noted that the commission would deal with local fraudsters who frustrate diasporans from investing in Nigeria.
Magu told Nigerians in diaspora that the anti-graft agency was aware of their frustration, uncertainties and risks posed by local fraudsters.
“The EFCC is ready to offer intelligence services to anyone seeking genuine business partners in Nigeria”, a statement issued on Sunday by Spokesman of the commission, Dele Oyewale quoted Magu as saying.
The EFCC boss said “more profiles of potential business partners in Nigeria would be obtained and delivered to the foreign- based investors and this would assist them in taking decisions on whom to partner with locally. We can also offer intelligence on any line of business desired by the Nigerian in the diaspora. We are ready to do all these to encourage credible and serious investors who do not want to be defrauded by fraudsters at home”.
According to the statement, “Magu charged Nigerians in the diaspora to avail themselves of these opportunities and bring more investments into the local economy. He also tasked them to support the anti- graft war, by exposing foreign assets of local politicians by taking advantage of the government’s whistle- blowing policy,” the statement reads briefly.
“The EFCC needs collaborative engagements with you all”, he said.
Magu urged diasporans to put more pressure on authorities and governments in their countries of residence to prosecute corrupt Nigerians hiding in their domain.
He expressed displeasure over the difficulties being faced by the EFCC to bring former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison- Madueke to trial, stressing that Nigerians in the United Kingdom should form pressure groups to demand her trial.
“Nigerians in the United Kingdom need to collaborate with the EFCC more and pressure the authorities there to assist the EFCC in bringing Diezani to trial. Does it not bother Nigerians in that country that Diezani has not been brought to trial for the heinous allegations of corruption against her in Nigeria? The public ownership of the fight against corruption should not be limited to Nigerians at home, we must all come forward, wherever we are, to insist that corrupt practices must not continue”, he said.
He gave accounts of the painstaking works of the EFCC in the areas of convictions and recoveries and assured them, that the Commission is on course in the pursuit of its assigned mandate.
“We are on course. In 2020 alone, in spite of the COVID- 19 pandemic, we have secured 213 convictions already. This shows the commitment we are putting into the work”, he said.
The statement reads further “In response, participants at the Conference, numbering over 500, drawn from Europe, Asia, Africa, South and North America and other parts of the world, commended the EFCC for its robust and gallant fights against economic and financial crimes. One of the conferees, Professor Adebisi Adewole of the University of Scotland, commended Magu and the EFCC for working tirelessly to rid Nigeria of corrupt practices. He charged the EFCC to continue on its winning streaks and mobilised youths to steer clear of economic crimes.
“Another conferee, Ambassador Lekan Idowu from Russia, expressed satisfaction with the performance of Magu and the EFCC, saying that Nigerians in the diaspora would not relent in its support for the EFCC.”
