The Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it secured the conviction of 68 persons for various corrupt practices in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states.
The Zonal Commander, Mr Farouk Dogondaji, disclosed this when the leadership of Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday.
Dogondaji said that 81 persons were arrested for various financial related crimes in the last six months in the Command.
According to him, aside the 68 convictions and 81 arrests, the commission was currently recording more cases and making convictions within the zone.
He urged the general public never to hesitate from providing useful information that would enable the commission to fight financial crimes in the zone.
Dogondaji, however, added that the Commission had gone beyond prosecution to crime prevention, as it had engaged in organising rallies, lectures, workshops and seminars against financial crimes, especially in primary and secondary schools, where children were tutored to remain upright and live a financial crime-free life.
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He further stated that EFCC in the zone had concluded its investigation on suspects arrested during the 2023 General Elections.
“They will soon be charged to court. Our lawyers are working with lawyers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ICPC for diligent prosecution.
He thanked the leadership of Kano correspondents’ Chapel for their partnership and promised to keep the relationship blossoming.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Chapel, Alhaji Aminu Garko, commended the EFCC zonal commander and his management team for their warm reception.
Garko, however, appealed to the EFCC Headquarters to decentralise release of information to journalists so that zonal commands would have the right to give needed information to working journalists in their zones for easy dissemination.
“It is not in the best interest of the commission to centralise information at the headquarters.
“Zonal commanders should be allowed to dish out first-hand information to practising journalists in their respective zones.
“This will help the commission to create more awareness to Nigerians,’’ he added.
(NAN)