The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulkarim Chukkol, highlighted the prevalence of various financial and economic crimes in the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission.
He emphasized that investment scams, Business Email Compromise (BEC), forex scams, and land and property fraud were among the most common crimes.
The Lagos Command alone received 512 petitions related to investment scams and 876 petitions related to forex scams.
Chukkol, speaking through the Commander of the Lagos Zonal Command, Michael Wetkas, expressed concern about the alarming rate at which people fall victim to these scams.
He emphasized that the Commission’s enforcement activities were focused on apprehending the perpetrators of these crimes.
In an effort to prevent such crimes, the Commission had intensified public awareness campaigns, believing that providing people with the right information could help them avoid becoming victims.
During a one-day workshop on Economic and Financial Crimes Reporting for Journalists, held on July 13, 2023, at the Commission’s Lagos Zonal Command, Chukkol commended the media for their reporting on the activities of the Commission over the past 20 years.
He stated that the Commission’s decision to sponsor the workshop demonstrated the importance it placed on the media’s role in combating economic and financial crimes, including corruption.
Chukkol acknowledged the media’s watchdog role in promoting transparent and accountable leadership worldwide, and specifically praised the media’s collaboration with the EFCC in the ongoing efforts to sanitize the environment.
He expressed the hope for a stronger partnership with the media and recognized the challenging task of reporting on the Commission’s dynamic and impactful work.
The workshop featured presentations by various experts, including ACE 1 Larry’s Peters Aso, who spoke about understanding the new money laundering laws in relation to designated non-financial businesses and professions.
ACE 1 Dele Oyewale presented a paper on investigative journalism and Nigeria’s fight against money laundering, while CSE Sanni Adenike Morinsola discussed new trends in cybercrime and how to avoid becoming a victim.
Participants at the workshop were journalists from print, broadcast, and online media organizations.
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