EFCC Team Storms Delta, Meets Okowa, Chief Judge, Police Commissioner

Operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday met with Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marshall Umukoro as well as State Commissioner for Police, Muhammed Mustaf.

The meeting was part of the familiarization tour by officers of the Benin Zonal office of the Commission to States under the zone.

Speaking during the visit, Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa called on Nigerians to support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the fight against corruption in order to secure the nation’s economy.

The governor stated this when he received officers of the Benin Zonal office of the Commission who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

He said: “Partnering with the EFCC and other security agencies will go a long way in securing the economy of Nigeria.”

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The governor assured that the state government will work with the EFCC to tackle corruption in the state. He lamented that one area where economic crime has assumed a frightening dimension was illegal oil bunkering.

According to him, aside the loss of money by the federal government, the environment also suffer from degradation through constant destruction of oil pipelines.

He therefore charged the EFCC to collaborate with other sister agencies to bring those responsible to book.

The EFCC team which was led by Mailafia Yakubu, had told the governor that the EFCC officially commenced operations last year in Benin City, Edo State and that the Benin Zonal office, covers Edo, Delta and Ondo States.

He said the essence of the visit was to ask for the support of the state government so that the EFCC can effectively deal with economic and financial crimes, especially oil theft and advance fee fraud.

The EFCC team also paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marshall Umukoro, where Yakubu commended the Nigeria judiciary for their effort in the fight against corruption.

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He said the hundreds of convictions which the EFCC has secured since its establishment would not have been possible without the support of the judiciary.

The state chief judge commended EFCC’s efforts in combating corruption. He however urged the agency to avoid coming to court with cases which can easily be settled through dispute resolution mechanism. He said, “Avoid using a sledge hammer to kill a fly.”

The EFCC team also visited the State Commissioner for Police, Muhammed Mustafa who pledged the support of the Nigeria Police to the EFCC.

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