The Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) has lauded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its recent recovery of N30 billion from the investigation of Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
A statement signed and issued on Wednesday by the Executive Director, TI-Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, underscored the significance of the recovery, while emphasising the need to hold accountable those entrusted with public funds.
According to him, It is highly commendable that the EFCC has taken action against corruption within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, which should be focused on alleviating poverty rather than being a breeding ground for embezzlement.
Highlighting Nigeria’s alarming poverty statistics, with approximately 104 million citizens living below the poverty line according to World Bank data, Rafsanjani lamented the detrimental impact of corruption on the nation’s development.
He urged for intensified efforts to recover stolen assets and prosecute those responsible, emphasising the importance of treating corruption as a major impediment to progress.
He opined that with poverty rates soaring and resources being misappropriated, it is imperative that the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies continue to pursue justice and ensure that looted funds are recovered and accounted for.
Rafsanjani further called for the promotion of the rule of law and transparency in anti-corruption efforts, emphasizing the crucial role of accountability in combating graft effectively.
He added: “In reaffirming our support for the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), we urge these agencies to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in their operations.”
“Only by preventing, blocking and holding corrupt individuals accountable and ensuring proper management of recovered assets can we root out the scourge of corruption from our society. “