EFCC Chair, Bawa, Calls For Synergy With Journalists: Advocates Necessity For Bankers To Declare Assets |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has called on the Media to partner with the Anti-Graft agency in unravelling and exposing Corrupt persons, most especially the need for Bankers to declare their assets.

The EFCC boss made this call at the Two-day Nigeria Guild of Investigative Journalists,  NGIJ, Workshop on Investigative and Solutions Journalism in the Digital Age, at Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos over the weekend.

Bawa cautioned journalists against Media trial to avoid jeopardizing anti-corruption efforts of the agency.

The workshop is a refresher course by the leadership of the Guild for its members nationwide.

The EFCC chairman explained that the call for declaration of assets by bankers is an age long law which the Agency will implement to strengthen anti graft war in the country.

According to the EFCC Chairman, the law is not a new law and EFCC will ensure every banker complies before the deadline, as “this will help monitor insider related funds, property trends and prevent money laundering.”

Represented by Deputy Head of Lagos Zonal Office, Emeka Okonjo, he called for the revival of investigative practices among journalists with a view to unraveling deep layered corruption cases and strenthen collaboration towards sustaining the ongoing anti-graft efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

Bawa, therefore, expressed the agency’s readiness to partner with the NGIJ in area of sensitisation and reportage of ongoing trial, noting that investigative journalists have a great role to play in the war against corruption in the country.

Award winning investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo shared his experience with NGIJ members drawn from Lagos, Abuja, Kwara, Ogun and Oyo states.

Soyombo revealed that his passion for social change, justice and equity in the society spurred him to embrace investigative journalism despite the hazard.

Other facilitators at the epoch event include; Human and Environmental Development Agenda,  HEDA, Chairman,  Olanrewaju Suraju, Financial Analyst and Communicator, Dapo Daramola and Barrister Ayo Odukale of Ayo Odukale Chambers who delved into Media laws, FOI Act, Whsitleblowing policy and other relevant laws guiding and related to media practice in Nigeria.

Mass communication scholars, Emmanuel Osideko and Oba Adeoye of Journalism in Nigeria also anchored various sessions with the participants on wide range of areas including solutions journalism, modern media techniques for multiplatforms, media branding and digital media entrepreneurship.

In his remark, NGIJ President, Ayoyemi Mojoyinola said the workshop was designed to further enhance efficiency for members and refresh their skills and competencies towards achieving guild’s mission of promoting good governance, accountability and transparency in the country through promotion and practice of investigative journalism with excellence.

Kogi State Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, President TeamNigeria4Change, Bestman Nze-Jumbo, UBA Head of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Nasir Ramon, Polaris Bank Corporate Affairs Head, Rasheed Bolarinwa and other dignitaries also highlighted the roles of the media and gave goodwill messages during the maiden Workshop of NGIJ.