The management of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board
(NCDMB) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) planto
forge more effective collaboration for quick investigation of serious
infractions by oil and gas companies in Nigeria. Engr. Simbi Wabote,
the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, who led the management of Board,
dropped this hint during a courtesy visit to the Acting Chairman of
the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu at the Commission’s new Head Office
Building in Jabi, Abuja on Tuesday. According to him, “we plan to
refer serious fraudulent discoveries from the audit to the Commission
for further action”, he intimated.
On the essence of the visit, Wabote stated “the Board will like to
initiate the development of a MoU between the two agencies to enable
quick deployment once the services of the Commission are required”. He
pointed out that “we regularly receive alerts via the whistleblowing
portal on our website. We do our bit to investigate such alerts and
believe some of the major findings may be candidates for referral to
EFCC”.
Engr. Wabote noted that the EFCC is “one of the key agencies driving
one of the core programs of His Excellency, President
MuhammaduBuhari”, adding that the Commission “ has succeeded in
building a reputation for itself locally and internationally as a
fearless fighter in the war against corruption”. Thus, his Board is
fully aligned with Mr. President’s fight against corruption. Which is
why the Board attends to requests for information or clarifications
about contract and oil and gas transactions under EFCC investigation
expeditiously.
He stated the Board has put in place an Anti-Corruption and
Transparency Monitoring Unit, headed by a senior member of the
management team, topromote anti-corruption and ethical behavior and to
investigate any internal infractions.
To foster a deeper relationship, Wabote indicated that the Board needs
more support on the investigative side of our activities and the
expertise of EFCC.
In his reply, the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Magu expressed delight
at the visit and commended Engr. Wabote for the bold move to enlist
the support of EFCC. He stated that his Commission has partnered
successfully with other government agencies to contain fraud and
financial malpractices. He emphasized that the fight against
corruption should be viewed as everybody’s fight in Nigeria because it
is the only way to save the economy from being wrecked by corrupt
individuals.
He thanked NCDMB for the measures and structures put in place to
promote transparency and ethical behavior. He urged every stakeholder
in Nigerian to join the fight and to preach against corruption in
their spheres of influence. He promised that his Commission is ready
and willing to support the NCDMB to recover any money due it as an
agency of the federal government. He expressed the desire for local
content practice to be extended to other important sectors of Nigerian
economy.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB was accompanied to the Commission
Engr. (Dr.) Ginah O. Ginah, General Manager, Corporate
Communications/Zonal Coordination, who is also the Head
Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit in the Board; others
in the visiting team included Barr. Naboth Onyesoh, Manager, Corporate
Communications, and Mrs Gloria Onajero (Head, Abuja Liaison Office),
FaridBlell and Victor Amabebe.
On the part of the EFCC, the Acting Chairman, Mr. Magu, Mr.
OsitaNwajah, Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Wilson Uwajarem, Head Media
& Publicity and Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Chief of Staff to the Executive
Chairman were on ground to receive the NCDMB team.