Edim with Lamorde

Forty six civil society groups in Nigeria, under the umbrella Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria, CCOSGIN, have passed a vote of confidence on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and its chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde.

Chairman of the group, Comrade Iso Bassey Edim announced the vote today, during a visit to the agency, at the forefront of the war against graft in Nigeria.

“In consideration of your track records of fighting crimes in Nigeria and even across the world, we hereby pass a vote of confidence in you. With humility and respect, we also wish to partner with the EFCC for easy and more formidable operations of the organisation’s objective as a watch dog. We hereby pledge our unalloyed commitment to work with your Commission to ensure that Nigeria is rid of corruption,” Edim told Lamorde.

Earlier Edim, in company with officials of the 46 groups, had said that the anti-corruption war by the EFCC was in tandem with President Muhammad Buhari’s zero tolerance to corruption.

He urged Lamorde not to be distracted by the activities of “self-acclaimed agents sponsored by some corrupt elements to distract the EFCC from carrying out its constitutional duties.”

In his response, Lamorde said the Commission is not averse to constructive criticisms that can ensure victory in the war against corruption.

He said the Commission’s doors were open to meaningful contributions from individuals and organisations with good intentions in the efforts to stamp out economic and financial crimes from the Nigerian society.

Lamorde said the success so far recorded by the Commission in the war against corruption would not have been possible without the active support of the civil society groups.

Lamorde, who urged the group to be the eyes and ears of the EFCC, said: “ it is gratifying to know that there are still some genuine civil society groups that appreciate what we are doing. We also appreciate your coming to identify with us and encourage us in our fight against corruption.

“As proof that we are partners in progress in the war against corruption, you will recall that the EFCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with some civil society groups in 2014 at the EFCC Academy. It is an on-going process and is still active; so, I invite members of your group that are yet to key into it to join.”

Lamorde also stated that EFCC would partner with the group in its planned national colloquium later in the year.