Nigeria’s Defence Chief Meets NSA, EFCC Chairman, Calls For End To Terror Financing

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, once more met with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Friday, during which he stressed the need for tracking of terrorism funding in Nigeriam

Also on Friday, in a separate meeting with the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, in his office at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja, Musa, noted that tracking terrorism funding was one of the non-kinetic approaches to the war against terrorism across the globe.

Ribadu had on Thursday, held a high-level security meeting with the 19 Northern Governors, Ministers of Defence, Police Affairs, and Interior, as well as the country’s security chiefs in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The meeting was in continuation of efforts to combat the escalating security threats in the northern region.

However, Musa, during the meeting with the EFCC Chairman, spoke on the use of census, installation of CCTV cameras in strategic points to contain cases of corruption, terrorism and other forms of insecurity in the country.

According to him, the Armed Forces of Nigeria has zero tolerance for corrupt practices and as such adopts the proceedings of a General Court Martial (GCM) to checkmate culpable personnel.

General Musa urged the EFCC boss to encourage public office holders and other Nigerians in positions of authority to uphold good governance to forestall economic breakdown and insecurity. 

A statement issued by Defence Headquarters said the CDS further informed the Chairman of the anti-graft body that AFN synergises with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other stakeholders to fight oil theft in the country.

He lamented that the issues of blocking loopholes brought about by siphoning of oil and soft legal system which delays prosecution of suspects have been major challenges.

The CDS, who harped on the use of census, installation of CCTV cameras in strategic points to contain cases of corruption, terrorism and other forms of insecurity in the country, encouraged Olukoyede to keep up his good work and remain assured of the suppot and cooperation of the AFN. 

While congratulating him on his appointment as the EFCC boss, the CDS gave an assurance that the AFN will not derail from its commitment to ensure the survival democratic rule.

He commended the EFCC Chairman for his unique approach of leveraging on the potentials of technology to fight corruption and other forms of economic crimes.

Earlier in his remarks, the EFCC Chairman stated that he was at the Defence Headquarters to explore avenues of cooperation and collaboration in the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.

Olukoyede recalled that on assumption of office, he laid so much emphasis on the need for Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of collaboration, being the key to winning the war against corruption. He pointed out that the war against corruption must be won as the menace has destroyed the nation’s economy and at same time dented her good image.

He strongly warned that if drastic measures were not taken to nip it in the bud, the country would be in jeopardy in the next 10 years.

The EFCC boss noted that as a means to mitigate the menace caused by corruption and insecurity, he posited that cognitive responsibility should be embraced by the military and other security agencies, adding that the war against corruption should be seen as everbody’s business.

Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh

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