Nigeria’s Antigraft Commission Orders Bankers to Declare Assets

Bankers in Nigeria have until June 1st to declare their assets in accordance with the bank employees declaration of assets act, the country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission boss Abdulrasheed Bawa has ordered.

Details of the act requires bank employees in the country make a full disclosure of all assets within 14 days of assuming duty, with the EFCC boss explaining that the move is aimed at checking the role of banks in keeping funds acquired illegitimately.

Mr Bawa briefed journalists on the commission’s decision on Tuesday shortly after a meeting with the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the EFCC chairman, discussions between him and the president were centred around ensuring the eradication of financial crimes in the country.

“We understand that at the tail end of every financial crime is for the criminal to have access to the funds that he or she has illegitimately gotten and we’re worried about the roles of financial institutions,” Bawa said.

“And we have discussed, but we hope that all financial institutions, particularly the bankers, will declare their assets as provided for by the law, in accordance with the Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act.

“And that the EFCC, come the 1st of June 2021, will be demanding for these asset declaration forms, filled by the bankers so that the line that we have drawn from the 1st of June is really complied with by bankers in particular.”

Bawa warned young citizens to steer clear cyber crimes as it portrays the country in a bad light. Between February and March alone, the EFCC boss says the agency has arrested about 300 cyber criminals across the country.

“As a young man, I am appealing to all young Nigerians to desist from these cybercrime activities. It is bringing bad image to our country, it is giving bad name to our country, it is also chasing away a lot of foreign investment that we need,” he noted.

According to Bawa, the EFCC “there is nothing like patting your back to say go and sin no more. Our laws does not provide for that. It is a crime and as we say in EFCC, EFCC will get you anywhere, anytime.”

By Abel Ejikeme
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