EFCC boss seeks international collaboration against economic crimes

The EFCC hosted an Interpol conference in Abuja.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, on Friday, in Abuja, advocated for synergy between 190 member countries of the Interpol in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 6th Interpol Global Programme on Anti-Corruption, Financial Crimes and Asset Recovery, Mr. Lamorde said sharing intelligence and information from other jurisdiction would go a long way in combating the menace of economic and financial crimes, especially in third world countries.

“One thing I want you to take away from this conference is the sharing of intelligence. I am sure you now have your contacts, I want to urge you all to feel free to contact yourselves when you need any information that will help your assignment.” Mr. Lamorde said.

He also commended INTERPOL for considering Nigeria’s EFCC as host for the conference, and urged the 65 course participants from Central, Southern and West Africa sub regions to be Nigerian Ambassadors in their various countries, noting that their one week stay in Nigeria has erased the perception about security in Nigeria.

“You are free to always come back, you are also free to also seek for a permanent resident permit,” he said
Head of Interpol’s anti-corruption department and Inspector General of the Indian Police Service, Jaganathan Saravanasamy, also commended the EFCC and its management for accepting to host such an international conference, which he described as hitch- free.

He said he was impressed with the facilities and the quality of resource materials and that participants were overwhelmed throughout the course of the five day conference. He also maintained that Interpol’s choice of EFCC in hosting the programme was not a mistake.

“I have said it before and I still want to maintain, it is on record that the EFCC is one of the very few Anti-Corruption agencies that has successfully recovered and brought back proceeds of corruption held in other international jurisdictions. It is this professionalism and commitment of EFCC that prompted INTERPOL to host this important international workshop for African countries, in this excellent venue of EFCC Academy,” Mr. Saravanasamy said.

A participant from South Africa, Magobosha Paketsane, of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Pretoria, while sharing the South Africa experience on Asset Forfeiture Procedure with participants during the conference, disclosed that recovered assets were managed by a trust for the enhancement of all the law enforcement agencies in the country.