Senior police officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent and above have been withdrawn from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the orders of the acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba.
Elsewhere, however, officials of the Commission, the Department of State Service, DSS and the Nigeria Police Wednesday pledged to intensify their collaboration in the fight against corruption. This commitment was restated as Heads of EFCC Zonal Offices in Kaduna and Ilorin, visited the Directors, DSS and the Police Commissioners respectively.
Baba said the decision to withdraw his officers was based on the operational requirements of the force.
In a letter dated April 15, 2021, addressed to the EFCC Chairman and signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IG, Idowu Omohunwa, the police boss directed that the affected officers should report not later than Wednesday
Titled, ‘Withdrawal of senior police officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police and above attached to the EFCC’ the letter reads in part, “I write to extend earnest regards of the Inspector-General of Police and to inform the chairman that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the withdrawal of all senior police officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police and above attached to your agency.
“The decision is informed by the current operational requirements of the force. You are accordingly requested to kindly direct the immediate release of the concerned officers who are to collectively report to the undersigned on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 10am for further instructions.
“I am to also request that you avail this office the comprehensive nominal roll of all police personnel attached to the EFCC to include their date of transfer and designations in the agency for the purpose of updating our records.”
However, in Kaduna Zonal, Harry Erin of the EFCC told the State Director of the DSS, Ahmed Idris Koya that he was visiting to familiarise himself with heads of security agencies in the State.
He thanked the DSS for its support to the Commission especially in intelligence, tracking of criminals engaged in money laundering and terrorism financing. He recalled that, with the help of the DSS, two suspects were recently arrested and one of them charged to court and convicted.
Responding, Koya, commended the history of collaboration between the agencies, saying, “there is the need for the two agencies to foster stronger synergy because no organization globally will fight crime especially money laundering and terrorism financing alone; we need each other.”
In the same vein, the new Zonal Head of the EFCC in Kwara, Usman Muktar, has called for increased synergy between the EFCC and the Nigeria police in the task of fighting corruption.
He made the call on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Mohammad Bagega, at the Command Headquarters, Ilorin, Kwara State.
“The Police has been a pillar of support to the EFCC since inception. Strengthening the already established cordial relationship between the EFCC and the Police will greatly assist in curbing the menace of corruption and other criminalities in the State”, Muktar said.
“My Predecessor had told me about the good relationship between the Commission and the Command. We want it to continue in that way. We are seeking for more cooperation such that any time we knock at your door, we want it open for us”, he added.
Responding, CP Bagega welcomed his guest with delight saying: “We are a family. We will give you whatever support you ask of us; operationally and intelligence-wise. We will support your efforts to stamp out corruption in Nigeria.
“The secret of our successes in Kwara State is the synergy and collaboration among law enforcement agencies including the EFCC. We believe that what affects one affects all. Hence, we synergize because no one can do it alone”, said the CP.