25th July, 2023
By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano
The Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 81 suspects, out of which 68 have been convicted for various financial crimes in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, between January and July this year.
Kano Zonal Commander, Farouk Dogondaji, spoke during an interactive session with the leadership of Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who paid him a courtesy call in his office, on Tuesday.
Dogondaji said the Zone with its headquarters in Kano also covers Jigawa and Katsina states.
According to him, “we recorded the arrest of 81 people for various financial crimes in the last seven months in the Zonal Command. We have also secured the conviction 68 out of those arrested.”
He further stated that the Commission was still recording some cases and making convictions within the zone.
The Zonal Commander further appealed to the general public never to hesitate from providing useful information that enable the Commission fight financial crimes in the zone.
He said the Commission has gone beyond prosecution to crime prevention, as it has engaged in organizing rallies, lectures, workshops and seminars against financial crimes, particularly, in primary and secondary schools where school children are tutored to remain upright and a financial crime-free life.
He further stated that EFCC in the zone has concluded its investigation on suspects arrested during the 2023 general elections.
“They will soon be charged to court. Our lawyers are working with lawyers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ICPC for their prosecution,” he added.
He, however, commended the leadership of Kano Correspondents’ Chapel for their partnership and promised to keep the relationship growing.
In his remarks, the chairman of Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, Alhaji Aminu Garko, commended the EFCC Zonal Commander and his management team for their warm reception.
Garko, however, appealed to the EFCC’s headquarters to decentralize release of information to journalists so that Zonal Commands would have the right to give needed information to working journalists in their zones for easy dissemination.
Garko added that, “it is not in the best interest of the Commission to centralize information at the headquarters. Zonal Commanders should be allowed to dish out first hand information to practicing journalists in their respective zones. By doing this will help the commission to create more awareness to Nigerians.”