The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called for deeper collaboration with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media in its renewed effort to tackle emerging cyber and financial crimes across Nigeria.
Speaking at a one-day sensitisation workshop for CSOs and journalists on Thursday in Kano, Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Kano Zonal Directorate, Sa’ad Hanafi-Sa’ad, said the engagement was designed to strengthen cooperation with non-state actors in the ongoing fight against corruption, cyber-enabled fraud, and cryptocurrency-related offences.
Hanafi-Sa’ad described CSOs and journalists as critical drivers of change, stressing that their roles in accountability, transparency, and public enlightenment are indispensable to the anti-graft war.
“You are not merely observers; you are indispensable allies in safeguarding our economy and collective future,” he said.
According to him, the workshop aims to educate participants on cryptocurrency fraud and other emerging financial crimes, expose the challenges in prosecuting such cases, and foster collaboration in developing preventive measures.
He expressed concern over the rapid sophistication of financial crimes in the country, noting that fraudulent activities were increasingly shifting from traditional scams to complex cyber-enabled schemes.
“These crimes destroy livelihoods, wipe out life savings, and undermine confidence in our financial systems,” he lamented.
Hanafi-Sa’ad urged participants to use the forum to build lasting partnerships with the EFCC in promoting public awareness, information sharing, and vigilance.
“Our fight against corruption is not a solo mission; it is a collective national endeavour that requires synergy, trust, and shared intelligence,” he added.
The Head of Legal and Prosecution Department, EFCC Kano Directorate, Jafar Alkasim, presented a paper titled “Prosecuting Financial Crimes: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward.”
Other sessions featured presentations on “Understanding Cryptocurrency Fraud and Other Emerging Financial Crimes” by Samuel Agbi, and “The Role of CSOs and Media in Driving a Preventive Framework” by Mr. Dele Oyewole, Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC Headquarters.
Oyewole disclosed that the commission had secured over 17,000 convictions in the last 22 years, underscoring the EFCC’s sustained efforts in curbing economic and financial crimes nationwide.
NAN