Whistle-blowers to be under oath to file petition, says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given reasons for its new policy that will compel potential whistle-blowers to be under oath before filing any petition.

The commission said it introduced the process to check likely abuse of the policy.

Under the new system, a whistle-blower will sign an undertaking and take an oath before filing an allegation of corruption.

The agency’s zonal head for its Kano office, Garba Dugum, stated this in Kano at a workshop on budget tracking and project monitoring for civil society organisations (CSOs) in the North.

Dugum, who expressed displeasure over series of petitions filed by supposed whistle-blowers, which were later found to be false declaration, stressed that the EFCC found it expedient to initiate the new policy to check needless allegations.

Represented by the head of economic governance I the Kano office, Sani Mohammed, the zonal officer reminded the participants of the extent false declaration could damage reputation.

He said the EFCC was conscious of the consequences that needless litigations and false petitions could cause.
“Talking about the success of the whistle-blower policy in Kano, I am sure you are aware the case of former Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, emanated from Kano, though the case is still in Kano. If you convert the money involved, you are talking of billions of naira.

“That was why the EFCC introduced oath-taking by whistle-blowers, to ensure that information given is correct. The commission will not hesitate to prosecute any person who gives false information, simply because you want to settle scores with another person,” Dugum said.

The zonal officer said EFCC’s doors were open for intelligence, lauding the efforts of the CSOs in raising critical cases of corruption and exposing ills in the society.

Prof Mohammad Fagge, of Bayero University Kano (BUK), advised the CSOs on independence and self-funding in carrying out their activities.

The professor of political science noted that relying on the activities of CSOs to government or individuals’ sponsorship would reduce their credibility and objectivity.