The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised the alarm over increasing cases of land fraud and cyber crimes in the South East.
The agency’s Enugu Zonal Commander, Aliyu Naibi, spoke on Saturday, while fielding questions from journalists during the anti-corruption road walk in Enugu in commemoration of this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day, as declared by the United Nations.
He said land fraud was increasingly discouraging investments while announcing that the commission had put machinery in place to discourage tackling the scourge.
He, however, noted that it is still the people and government of the region that should permanently end it.
He said, “Our major challenge in South East and Enugu in particular, is people using land to defraud other people. This is the kind of report we get almost daily.
“Another is the issue of cybercrime mostly by youths.”
The EFCC chief called on stakeholders to rise and save the region from the ugly trends of land fraud and cybercrime in the best interest of the region and its youths.
“We want to use this opportunity to implore our community, religious leaders and traditional rulers to intervene and checkmate this ugly trend.
“The state government is not left behind either. They and every aspect of society must stand up against this by talking and taking action.
“I say this because land fraud is an economic sabotage and it discourages investors from coming into any state where it is practised”, he said.
On the road walk in Enugu, Naibi explained that it was meant to create awareness about the negative effects of corruption.
While delivering the speech of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, Naibi called on anti-corruption stakeholders to unite and continue to support the commission to break the chain of corruption in the country.
He said, “It is fitting that the theme of the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day is UNCAC @ 20: Uniting the World against Corruption.
“For us at the EFCC, we remain committed to working with the corruption prevention template recommended by UNCAC. In driving this prevention focus, the Commission under my watch will prioritise these focal areas: collaboration and synergy with local and foreign law enforcement agencies, professionalism and strict adherence to the rule of law as the absolute minimum in all activities of the Commission.
“Only through professionalism and adherence to the rule of law will the Commission be able to contribute to economic growth by restoring investors’ confidence in our economy. Our focus makes it imperative for us to create conducive environments for job creation, the opening of investment space across the country and the improvement of our international image.
“Increased professionalism means that there will be zero tolerance for all forms of arbitrariness. I want every EFCC operative to be more diligent and resourceful in our assigned tasks. My leadership will punish infractions traceable to unethical practices. We will ensure that the right things are done at all times”.
