FIC Report (Edo State) – The Acting Zonal Director of the Benin Zone of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in charge of Edo, Delta and Ondo states, Mr. Effang Okim, has extolled the chairman and members of the Edo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists for the positive relationship and cordial partnership between the Commission and the State Council, while seeking more collaborative efforts in combating financial and Economic crime in the State.
While speaking at the Council secretariat in Benin City during a Media visit, Mr. Okim informed the journalists that the gain of the partnership between the EFCC and the media is unquantifiable.
“We won’t be who people say that we’re without you (the media). Without you, our work will not speak for itself. It has been a very good relationship. Without you we won’t get to where we are today,” he said. He further emphasized that continued partnership would produce unquantifiable results in combating financial and Economic crimes.
Responding, Dr. Festus Alenkhe, Chairman of the Edo State Council of the NUJ, applauded the anti-graft agency for fighting fraudsters and reducing their activities to the lowest that the State has experienced in recent times.
Dr. Alenkhe pointed out that ritual killings have been on the rise as the fraudsters have now resorted to ritual killings. He urged the commission not to turn deaf ears on the new development of ritual killing even though it was not its primary area of responsibility.
The anti-graft agency boss however disclosed that the issue of ritual killings is not in his agency’s mandate unless it’s tied to economic and financial fraud.
Also speaking while fielding questions from journalists, the Commission’s Boss
revealed that one Mr. Kelly Okungbowa, popularly known as Ebo Stone, whom it earlier arrested on allegation of naira mutilation and abuse was charged to a competent Court of jurisdiction and was granted bail by the Court.
Mr. Okim affirmed that the EFCC enforces laws and do not make laws, insisting that the decision to place the suspect in a separate cell is not a private matter but public, and was informed by the fact that he has some form of influence within the community, especially among the population of youths and he is also politically exposed.
“He was detained in the best and right procedure and he was taken to a competent court of law, a Federal High Court with a competent judge presiding over the case,” Mr. Okim dispelled insinuations in some quarters that Okungbowa was given some preferential treatment.
He revealed to Journalists that the court adjourned Okungbowa’s case to the 20th day of May for hearing, and that this was a positive feat for the agency, especially as some people are fond of accusing the agency of acting out of turns.
Signed
Donatus Omenlimhen
FIC, Benin.
27/03/2025
