EFCC Warns False ‘Whistleblowers’, As Court Remand Three in Kuje Prison

By Matthew Ogune, Abuja

The Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) has expressed concern about the activities of supposed whistleblowers who mislead the agency through false information.

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The warning is coming same day that Justice Musa Usman of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Bwari, Abuja ordered that the trio of Theophilus Omambala, Lawal Umar and Alexander Danjuma be remanded in the Kuje Custodial Centre pending determination of bail application.

Abuja Zonal Office of the commission on Thursday March 18, 2021, arraigned the trio on one count charge bordering on false and misleading information.

Worried by the development, the 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 dead end.

Bawa said the activities of false whistle blowers detract from the noble intendment of the Whistblower Policy of the Federal Government which seek to incentivize information leading to the recovery of stolen wealth.

Noting that the Whistleblower Policy was not designed as a tool for unscrupulous citizens to send law enforcement agencies on wild goose chase or set them against their perceived enemies, he 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 and acknowledged the breakthroughs which the EFCC recorded in its assets recovery drive, using information supplied by whistleblowers.

He advised genuine informants to be cautious and ensure that they have accurate information before engaging with the agency.

Bawa 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.