The Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, has expressed concern about the activities of supposed whistleblowers who mislead the agency through false information.
According to a statement issued by the Commission’s head of Media Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Abdurasheed Bawa, said despite due diligence by the EFCC, scarce investigative resources have been wasted by the agency in following up false leads that frequently comes to a dead end.
He said the activities of false whistle blowers largely undermines the noble intendment of the Whistblower Policy of the Federal Government which seeks to incentivize information leading to the recovery of stolen wealth.
Bawa noted that the Whistleblower Policy was not designed as a tool for unscrupulous citizens to send law enforcement agencies on wild goose chases, or set them against their perceived enemies, and vowed that the EFCC will not hesitate to prosecute any whistle blower who willfully provides the agency with false information.
He, however, reiterated the Commission’s preparedness to work with genuine whistleblowers, while acknowledging the breakthroughs which the EFCC recorded in its assets recovery drive, using information supplied by whistleblowers.
Bawa advised genuine informants to be cautious and ensure that they have accurate information before engaging with the agency.
He further assured that the Directorate of Intelligence which was recently created, will henceforth ensure that all information received by the EFCC is subjected to rigorous due diligence before action is taken.
