The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has renewed its collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Immigration Service to combat terrorist financing in the South-East.
This rapprochement came on Tuesday, March 8, 2025, when the EFCC’s Acting Zonal Director, Enugu Zonal Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Aisha Abubakar paid a courtesy visit to Major General Oluyemi Thomas Olatoye, the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu State.
Dele Oyewale, the commission’s spokesperson in an official signed statement disclosed that Abubakar while speaking during the visit, said the essence of the visit was to seek for enhanced synergy with the Nigerian Army, which she described as a critical stakeholder in combating terrorist financing and other forms of financial and economic crimes.
“I have come here with my team to seek for the usual and further enhanced collaboration in the fight against terrorist financing, economic and financial crimes, which have become so prevalent that, either in our individual or corporate capacity, everyone has fallen victim one way or the other. Most recently, we had a joint task force operations with the Nigerian Army, DSS, Police and we had over a hundred suspects arrested in Abuja, just about a week ago and that shows that from the top to the bottom, it is one rule, one government and it is all to see to the safety, betterment and security of the citizenry”, she said.
While assuring Olatoye of maximum cooperation, the Zonal Director said the Directorate will support the agency in achieving its mandate in the South-East. “We do a lot of data analysis. We have different Departments which you might find useful. We have a very vibrant Forensics Department, we have very good analytic tools most especially tools for financial analysis and whenever you have any form of fraud -related issues, our doors are open to assist”, she said.
Responding, Olatoye pledged to partner with the Directorate in the fight against terrorist financing, economic and financial crimes, especially in the South-East.
“We are going to be your partner in combating economic and financial crimes. Whatever you noticed in Abuja, the system is one and it is the same thing we will replicate here. What we just want from you is notify us whenever you require that collaboration. Anytime you are going out, let us know so that if you need security advice or that security itself, just let us know. I am giving you that assurance that ours is to create that environment for your operations, so that you can achieve success. All of us are working towards national security and that is what is sacrosanct”, he said.
In a similar vein, Comptroller of Immigration Service, Enugu State Command, CIS Nkechi Enobong Enete has assured Abubakar of the Service’s unalloyed support, cooperation and partnership in fighting corruption, economic and financial crimes.
The Immigration boss made this known on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 when Abubakar paid a courtesy visit to her office.
She noted that the two agencies must collaborate in order to succeed. “We cannot work well and move our country forward without collaboration. We need to work together. There must be that cooperation and we will be working together. I am promising on behalf of Enugu Command, that wherever, however you need us, we will be there”, she said.
Earlier during the visit, Abubakar noted that the need for the two agencies to collaborate cannot be over emphasized. “We know that no one is an island. We know that to succeed in this job, we need to come together and move together. As agencies, it’s all about one goal. The betterment, the unity and security of the Nigerian State. Whatever it takes to move us forward, we have to do and one of the ways to achieve that is to collaborate”
“We have had great support from your Service even in the monitoring and arresting of suspects as they come in and go out. We have done a lot together and in that light, I want to leverage on that and see that we continue to do more”, she said.
