close
Saturday, March 20, 2021

Fake whistleblowers wasting EFCC’s resources: Bawa

The EFCC boss stated that activities of false whistleblowers had marred the whistleblowing policy.

• March 19, 2021
Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC chairman
Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC chairman

The Chairman of EFCC Abdulrasheed Bawa on Friday revealed that the activities of false whistleblowers have resulted in the wastage of the scarce investigative resources of the anti-graft agency.

This comes as the anti-graft agency continues to prosecute false whistleblowers.

Peoples Gazette earlier reported that 2 whistleblowers were served a 2-months jail term for giving misleading and false information to the EFCC.

In a statement by @officialEFCC, the official Twitter page of EFCC, Mr Bawa who lamented over growing cases of false whistleblowing vowed to subject information received by the anti-graft agency to rigorous scrutiny.

The EFCC boss stated that activities of false whistleblowers had marred the whistleblowing policy.

“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 come to a dead end,” the statement read.

It added: “He said the activities of false whistleblowers detract from the noble intendment of the Whistleblower Policy of the federal government which seek to incentivise information leading to the recovery of stolen wealth.”

Launched in 2016 by the President Buhari led administration, the whistleblowing policy was introduced to encourage Nigerians to voluntarily disclose information about fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct,  and other forms of corruption and theft in government parastatals.

However, some whistleblowers are being victimised for exposing fraudulent transactions in government parastatals.

Warning that the policy was not created for wild goose chase, Mr Bawa warned that the anti-graft agency will not hesitate to whistleblowers that wilfully pass false intel to the agency.

He also advised genuine whistleblowers to ensure that the information they possess was accurate before engaging the anti-corruption agency.

More from Peoples Gazette

States

Ondo: Sister stabs brother to death

A police spokesman said Amotekun Corps are in charge of the case and until it is reported to the police, it cannot investigate the matter.

Kayode Fayemi

Agriculture

Register or leave the state, Ekiti govt tells herders, farmers

The government says identity cards would be issued to registered farmers and herders free of charge.

States

Kaduna travellers advised against night journey

The chairman of RTEAN also cautioned drivers against taking passengers outside of motor parks.

NationWide

Policewoman, two others shot dead as ‘APC thugs’ unleash mayhem during Ekiti by-election

The violence came during an exercise to elect a new House of Assembly member for Ekiti East Constituency 1.

Benue State governor Samuel Ortom

Agriculture

Governor Ortom confirms herdsmen attack on his convoy

The Benue governor quickly linked the attack to a law that was adopted in 2018 against nomadic grazing.

NationWide

Nigerians to get NDLEA drug-free certificates before marriage: Marwa

Buba Marwa says parents will be asked to list drug-free documents as part of requirements for approving their children’s marriage.