The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) on Thursday restated their commitment to forming a stronger alliance targeted at reducing corruption to the barest minimum and improving asset recovery and management in the country.
The renewed move to synergize their anti-graft and asset recovery initiatives were disclosed when the AMCON’s management, led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gbenga Alade, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
While recalling the support of the EFCC for the company over the years, Alade maintained that the visit was to seek more support from the anti-graft commission.
He said: “I really want to appreciate what you have done for AMCON but we want more and that is why we are here. AMCON cannot achieve anything without the EFCC. We cannot achieve our objectives without the EFCC and this is the reason for our strategic alliance.
“We have some knotty issues particularly with the airlines which are of strategic importance to Nigeria. We have a lot of oil and gas cases too. The power sector is another one. We have many people that are owing. The airlines, the oil sector and the power sector are of strategic importance to the economy of Nigeria.
“We want to concentrate on these areas. The amount of money we are talking about here are in millions of dollars and billions of naira. If we can concentrate on these sectors and crack the issues, it will help the economy of Nigeria. This is why we have come, we need more support from you”, the AMCON boss added.
In his remarks, the EFCC Chairman assured the company’s management of the support and collaboration of the Commission, stressing that a more cordial working relationship between the two organisations is necessary in the interest of the country.
Olukoyede explained: “AMCON and EFCC have always been partners. That is the line we will continue to toe in the EFCC. We will review issues and continue to work in the interest of this nation. Over the years, I am not sure there is any agency that supported AMCON like the EFCC.
That is why we dedicated a Desk to AMCON. So far, the relationship has been mutually beneficial. You have supported us in our investigations and we have also supported you in carrying out your mandate. We must realise that we must work in the interest of Nigerians first.
“I want to promise you that we will always do the right thing. I am going to use the instrumentality of the anti-corruption fight to drive and stimulate the economy and that is where EFCC and AMCON need to come together and collaborate. Where there is a crime, we identify and investigate and do what we are supposed to do. We have had instances where we recovered money and properties for AMCON”, he added.
