By Philomina Attah
The Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa has pledged to steer the organisation towards proactive and intelligence-led investigation.

Bawa said this in Abuja on Friday when he officially assumed duties at the commission’s headquarters.

Spokesperson for EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that the new EFCC boss promised a paradigm shift in the agency’s approach to anti-graft war, from fighting corrupt persons to fighting corruption.

“There is a difference between fighting corruption and fighting corrupt people; and going forward, we are going to be proactive in our approach in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

“I will create a full-fledged directorate of intelligence that will spearhead intelligence gathering, which will ensure proactive response in the fight against corruption.

“We are going to digitalise our processes, and we are going to create a new full-pledged directorate of intelligence to enable us gather intelligence so that we will be proactive in our fight against economic and financial crimes.

“And by so doing, we will also provide the government with necessary quality advice that will lead to good governance,” Bawa pledged.

He also assured stakeholders of the commission’s continued partnership.

“For our strategic partners across the shores of this country, we will continue to work together with you.

“We will continue to share intelligence, to see that the stolen wealth of this country is returned for the betterment of us all.

“But all of these, we will be doing it the way the EFCC is known to be doing its things.

“The provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, extent laws of the country have always been and will always be our guide,” he said.

The chairman also pledged to prioritise staff welfare, stressing he was going to work on it, and also seek necessary support from the government.

“We know the problems and God willing, we are going to solve these problems,” he assured.

Earlier in his handing over remarks, the out-going Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mr Mohammed Umar, said under his watch, the Commission prosecuted 804 cases and obtained a total of 583 convictions.

He added that substantial recovery running into billions of Naira was made, while various assets were equally forfeited through interim or final Order of Court.

He congratulated Bawa for a well-deserved appointment and wished him well in his new assignment.

“I am particularly delighted to be handing over the affairs of the Commission to Bawa.

“He is an officer with whom I have enjoyed close working relationship and who contributed immensely to our collective efforts in the war against Economic and Financial crimes.

“I have no doubt that he will do well, and I enjoin all staff to accord him the same support that I have received over the last seven months,“ he said.

Umar thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving him the opportunity to lead the Commission.

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has reiterated its commitment to the protection of schools and farming communities against banditry and criminal activities in Kano State.

The state Commandant of the corps, Mr Abu Abdu-Tambuwal, said this while addressing personnel of the corps as part of activities to mark the 2021 International Civil Defence Day on Wednesday in Kano.

Abdu-Tambuwal said the corps was mandated to provide security to schools, colleges and tertiary institutions of learning, to create safe and secured learning environment.

“The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has directed the corps to protect schools and colleges as part of our mandate to defend the defenseless.

“We must protect our students from bandits and criminals in addition to the protection of national assets from vandalism.

“We must stand firm to defend the defenseless and critical national assets to make Nigeria great,” he said.

According to him, the corps has deployed Agro Rangers to communities to mediate and resolve farmers/pastoral clashes.

He added that the team recorded significant successes in enhancing peace building and conflict resolution in the society.

Abdu-Tambuwal explained that Agro Rangers were deployed to the Danshoshiya Forest Reserve while plans had reached advance stage to deploy additional rangers to two other reserves across the state.

“Agro Rangers are specially trained to protect and safeguard farmers to enable them to cultivate their farmlands to achieve food security,” he said.

While calling on the personnel to be dedicated in the discharge of their duties, Abdu-Tambuwal reiterated the corps commitment to the protection of lives and property.

Meanwhile, the NSCDC has decorated officers and men of the corps who excelled in various sport competitions in the past one year.

The commandant said the officers and men of the corps participated and won gold medals in various sporting events organised for security agencies in the country.

“Their performances are glory and pride to the command,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three players were decorated with gold medals while many others were awarded certificates. (NAN)

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

Mr Sama’ila Shu’aibu-Dikko, the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, has tasked Police personnel to respect human rights and rule of law in the discharge of their duties.

Shu’aibu -Dikko gave the charge in a statement issued by DSP Abdullahi Haruna, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, on Wednesday in Kano.

The commissioner made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

“In this era of community policing, all officers of the command are to work diligently, respect human rights and rule of law in accordance with the international best practices,’’ Shu’aibu-Dikko said.

The CP further commended the Emir for his continued support to the command.

In his remark, Bayero lauded the police for their good work toward ensuring the protection of lives and property.

Bayero urged the CP to work and contribute his quota toward making the state safe and secured. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed “overwhelming joy” over release of abducted female students of Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, in Zamfara.

While reacting to the development in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday, the President said:

“I join the families and people of Zamfara in welcoming and celebrating the  release of these traumatized female students.”

President Buhari said he was excited that their ordeal came to a happy end without any incident, adding that “being held in captivity is an agonizing experience not only for the victims, but also their families and all of us.”

However, while celebrating the release of the students, the president called for greater vigilance by the people so that human intelligence could be collected early enough to nip the bandits’ plans in the bud.

According to him, the time has come to reverse, completely, the grim and heartbreaking incidents of kidnapping.

“Ransom payments will continue to prosper kidnapping,” he warned, while urging the Police and the Military to go after these kidnappers and bring them to justice. (NAN)