Reasons we require assets declaration from bankers effective June 1 ─EFCC Chair

*Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it will ensure bankers comply with the Bank Employees, Etc. (Declaration of Assets) Act, following concerns raised on roles being played by bankers in the fight against corruption in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to concerns raised on the roles being played by bankers in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will be demanding the assets declaration forms of all bankers across the country.

Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, newly-appointed Chairman of EFCC, who stated this Tuesday, March 16 while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, FCT, announced that bankers would be required to present the forms from June 1, 2021.

Bawa said: “The EFCC, come June 1, 2021, will be demanding these assets forms filled by the bankers and for us to see that the line that we have drawn from June 1 is fully complied with by all, bankers in particular.”

The EFCC Chairman noted that the anti-graft Commission took the decision as a result of concerns raised on the roles being played by bankers in the fight against corruption in the country.

According to him, the EFCC will ensure that bankers comply with the Bank Employees, Etc. (Declaration of Assets) Act.

Bawa stated that this was because criminals would always want to have access to the proceeds of their crime.

He said that bankers would be asked to declare their assets and the commission would ensure that all employees in the nation’s banking industry comply with the directive.

The EFCC Chairman added: “The assurance that I am going to give Nigerians going forward is that we will do our best to ensure that this country is free of economic and financial crimes.

“We understood that the tail end of every financial crime is for the criminals to have access to the funds that he or she has illegitimately gotten, and we are worried about the roles of financial institutions.”

“God willing, we hope that all financial institutions, particularly the bankers will declare their assets as provided for by the law in accordance with the Bank Employees, Etc. (Declaration of Assets) Act.”