Looted Funds: EFCC Threatens Corrupt Bankers, Forex Dealers

By Dipo Olowookere

Ahead of 2019 general elections, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has warned Bureau de Change operators to stop aiding corrupt practices of politicians, as he vowed to prosecute operators and bankers who fail to comply with laws guiding the financial regulating system.

Mr Magu made this known on November 14, 2018, at the Commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, during a meeting with the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON).

“These politicians transfer these looted funds from government accounts to BDC’s account; in 10, 20 millions of Naira in about 75 transactions in one day. This is done with only paper work, no physical cash,” the EFCC chief said.

Mr Magu said further, “The BDC operators now take the money to the politician’s village and also buy properties for them in and outside the country. They help clean up dirty money. When we start prosecuting them in every zones, others will sit up”.

He added that, “We all have the responsibility to clean this country. We must always do the right thing. We shall go to the airports and borders points and deal with those who help these thieves”.

President of ABCON, Mr Aminu Gwadabe, who visited the Commission with 11 officers of the association, commended the EFCC Chairman for his determination and fighting spirit in the crusade against corruption in Nigeria.

He assured that the about 5000 licensed members of the association are ready to collaborate with the commission in the fight against corruption, but lamented that the problem has always been with the unlicensed members who are ready to cut corners and bend the rules of the game.

“In Abuja alone, we have over 100,000 unregistered BDC operators. These are the people giving us the bad name. We would need the EFCC to partner with us in sanitizing the association,” he pleaded.

Mr Gwadabe and his team who were decorated as Anti-Corruption Ambassador, however promised to take the message back “especially as those that made this visit cut across the zones.”

“We are happy to be here, we shall take the message home and we shall continue to do our best to make Nigeria a better place,” he said.