EFCC
¢ CSO Tasks Judiciary On Stronger Protection Laws For Intelligence Sources
Nigerias sustained onslaught against internet fraudsters in the country has been most successful owing largely to verifiable intelligence the anti-graft agencies received from concerned members of the public.
Often, these intelligence leads to surveillance, arrest, investigation and eventual prosecution in courts. But little or nothing has been said about the work whistleblowers are doing and how they are helping the government recover funds in naira, dollars, pounds and euros.
The whistle blower policy was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in December 2016 to serve as a medium for Nigerians to submit tips on financial misappropriation and other wrong doings to appropriate authorities.
The Federal Ministry of Finance was saddled with responsibility of coordinating the whistleblowing policy while Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) serves as the secretariat.
Other critical Stakeholders such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (1CPC), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) are partners.
Between 2016 when the idea of whistleblowing was conceived and 2021, the sums of N70,925,225,642.95, $9,777,439.99, and £21, 500.00 was recovered from corrupt individuals while a total of 481 convictions were secured.
Recall that following a useful tip by a whistleblower in 2017, the EFCC raided and successfully recovered the sums of $43.5million, 27,800 pounds and N23.2 million in Lagos (Flat 7b, No 16, Osborne Towers) in 2017.
Also, a Kogi State House of Assembly candidate was arrested with N326 million and $140,500 in an Estate in Abuja whereas his accomplice was apprehended in Lagos with $470,000.00 after a painstaking investigation by EFCC following the information provided by a whistle-blower.
The Guardian learnt that individuals who submitted tips preferred their identities to be kept secret for fear of victimisation. However, anti-graft stakeholders working towards reducing corrupt practices in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government have raised the alarm over the increasing number of public servants suffering retaliation for reporting wrongdoings in their places of work.
According to them, findings have revealed that many government officials are willing to report wrongdoings but are afraid due to fear of victimisation by superior forces.
They called on legal practitioners to help whistleblowers understand their rights and the legal procedures involved in reporting wrongdoing. The stakeholders spoke in Abuja during a one-day workshop for lawyers put together by the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL).
Speaking, President, Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL), Abdul Mahmud, urged lawyers to advocate for stronger whistleblower protection laws and assist whistleblowers in navigating potential legal challenges or retaliation they may face.
According to Mahmud, lawyers could educate the public about whistleblowing laws, the rights and protections available to whistleblowers and the processes involved in reporting misconduct.
He advised lawyers to offer confidential consultations to potential whistleblowers to help them understand their options and the potential risks involved in coming forward, insisting that lawyers can actively promote whistleblowing and contribute to a more transparent and accountable society.
Lawyers can provide legal representation to whistleblowers to ensure their rights are protected throughout the process. Lawyers can advocate for their clients interests and defend them against retaliation or legal challenges.
Lawyers can work with policymakers and advocacy groups to push for stronger whistleblower protection laws and advocate for legal reforms that support whistleblowers.
Lawyers can also volunteer their time or expertise to support organisations dedicated to whistleblowing advocacy and support. On his part, AFRICMIL Coordinator, Dr. Chido Onumah, disclosed that the body has collaborated with lawyers who are interested in public interest litigation to defend officials who suffer retaliation for blowing the whistle in the interest of the public.
Apart from defending victimised whistleblowers, we are trying to cultivate a team of lawyers who will offer their professional skills in the quest for the enactment of a long-overdue whistleblower protection law in the country, he added.
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