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EFCC’s “Eagle Eye’’ app as instrument for anti-graft war

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently inaugurated a data-collection mobile application (app) to enhance its intelligence gathering efforts at fighting corruption.

 

The technology, codenamed “Eagle Eye’’, seeks to boost public participation in the fight against corruption by easing the process of reporting economic and financial crimes to the commission.

A major complaint by anti-graft agencies in the country has been that Nigerians are generally reluctant when it comes to assisting with vital information on criminals and their activities.

Security experts have long identified this as a major setback in the federal government’s fight against corruption in the land.

They blame the public apathy on certain realities, including lack of confidence in security agents based on experiences, and bottlenecks in the conventional financial crime reporting process, which is based on submission of written petitions by informants.

According to the EFCC, “Eagle Eye’’ is designed to address these and several other shortcomings that have long alienated the public in the government’s anti-corruption crusade.

“Eagle Eye does not replace the conventional way of submitting petitions. It is, however, a means of reporting financial crimes as they happen’’ is a message on the app.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Chairman of EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, shed light on two key features of the app and how it would make a difference in the financial crime reporting process.

Bawa explained that the technology was designed to guarantee the anonymity or security of anyone reporting cases of corruption to the EFCC.

He said a unique advantage of the application was the elimination of a direct person-to-person interface in the reporting process, thereby guaranteeing confidentiality and “an added incentive for effective whistleblowing’’.

According to him, it is a significant departure from the conventional reporting channel that requires disclosure of an informant’s identity to the commission.

He said that whistleblowers would no longer have to worry about being sold out by corrupt agents to affected criminals.

The app, which is available on Apple or Google Playstore, does not require registration by a user.

Users have an option to reveal their identities by providing personal information such as name, phone number, e-mail address and contact address.

“With the app, those who hitherto were afraid of report corruption cases to the commission either for fear of being identified by the culprits or having their identities revealed, can now do so with the assurance of full anonymity,’’ Bawa said.

He also explained that the “Eagle Eye’’ app does not only make it easy for the public to share information with the EFCC, it also brings the commission closer to the people, especially those at the grassroots.

It eliminates the burden of paperwork, long-distant travel to an EFCC’s office to submit a petition, and the cost and delays associated with mailing of documents to the commission. The technology also came with a photo upload link.

The EFCC boss said:  “Eagle Eye represents a new experience in information sharing and crime reporting between the public and the EFCC.

“With this app, Nigerians and non-Nigerians can easily take a picture of a property suspected to have been fraudulently or corruptly acquired and send to us seamlessly’’.

However, Bawa explained that the app was not a replacement of the traditional way of lodging complaints through lawyers or in-person, adding that the commission would continue to receive information or petitions from individuals the old way.

“We are not going digital completely’’, Bawa said.

Anthony Uzor (not real name), who works in the Federal Ministry of Finance, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he had always wanted to submit petitions to the EFCC but did not know how to go about it.

Besides, Uzor said the fear of his identity being revealed to those exposed had also been a major drawback for him.

“If this app is what they say it is, then the two major obstacles holding me back from reaching out to the EFCC have been removed; I think it will also encourage many other Nigerians in my shoe,’’ Uzor said.

According to the EFCC chairman, the initiative is a clear demonstration of his pledge, on assumption of office, to run a technology-driven agency.

“The Eagle Eye will go a long way in aiding the reportage of fraudulent activities of individuals, especially cases of money laundering through the real estate sector,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the information sharing links on the app are divided into four sections — A to D.

Section A, which is labelled “Select pictures/camera’’, instructs users to “capture or select from your gallery picture(s) of suspect/assert/property you wish to report’’.

Section B states location details, that is, the location of suspects or assets or property that users wish to report.

Section C, labeled “Report description’’, asks users to provide detailed description of pictures attached.

Under Section D, labelled “Informant details (optional’’), informants who wish to reveal their identities can do so by providing their full names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and residential addresses.

Bawa, therefore, appealed to the public to take advantage of the app in bringing cases of corruption and economic crimes to the knowledge of the EFCC.

NANFeatures

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NSCDC Denies Involvement in Bolt Driver’s Death, Pledges Cooperation with Police

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NSCDC

The Edo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has refuted allegations that its officers were involved in the death of a Bolt driver in Benin.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, SC Efosa Egbebor, clarified that the officers in question were merely assisting the police with their investigation.

The denial follows the arrest of four NSCDC officers by the state police command, a move that came after Bolt drivers staged a protest over the driver’s death on Thursday.

Egbebor insisted that preliminary findings by the NSCDC at the command level indicated that its officers had no role in the tragic incident.

“Our boys did not kill anybody. The case is before the police, and we cannot be a judge in our own case,” he stated.

He explained that the incident stemmed from a verbal dispute between the Bolt driver and a customer at a hotel, which later escalated into a physical confrontation.

“The driver, who was allegedly beaten by the customer and his friends, later died,” Egbebor said.

According to him, NSCDC officers stationed at the hotel only intervened to restore order and did not harm the driver.

“We have sent our boys to the police to give them the necessary information they needed. We are cooperating fully with the police investigation,” he added.

Egbebor also dismissed reports that NSCDC officers were arrested, explaining that they voluntarily presented themselves to the police to aid the inquiry.

He emphasized that the NSCDC would not tolerate any form of misconduct and assured that due process would be followed.

“After the investigation has been concluded, we will know who and who went wrong. We are not going to back anybody or support anybody for any illegality.

“Whoever has broken the law will face the wrath of the law. That’s justice,” he said.

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North Hails Tinubu’s Marching Order to End Banditry by 2025

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Stakeholders in northern Nigeria have applauded President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the military to end banditry and insecurity by the end of 2025, describing it as a necessary step toward restoring peace and stability.

The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, who announced the directive recently, assured that the military would sustain its aggressive operations against criminal elements.

“The bandits are now on the run, but the military will not rest until we end this thing. The president has given us marching orders to end insecurity in every part of our country by the end of this year.

“The Chief of Defence Staff and the National Security Adviser are working day and night to actualize that target. As you have seen, we are putting pressure on all the theatre operations,” Badaru said.

Citizens across the North-East and North-West welcomed the development, stating that insecurity remains a major obstacle to progress, particularly in food security and economic activities.

A Borno-based farmer, Abubakar Ibrahim, said the presidential order gave hope for a return to normalcy. He stressed the need for a massive military push to clear insurgents from the Lake Chad region, which is crucial for all-year-round farming.

“We are happy a deadline of December is given. There’s always a need for a timetable to get things done. Rehabilitation, reconstruction, and resettlement programmes are ongoing in Borno, but we still face challenges from remnants of terrorists that need to be cleared,” Ibrahim said.

In Adamawa, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, also commended the presidential order, emphasizing its potential to restore economic activities.

“It is indeed very comforting to hear the Commander-in-Chief issue a direct order to the troops. Flushing out bandits has multiple benefits, including the restoration of productive activities such as farming and trading. That is the real import of the President’s directives.

“While expressing total support for this bold decision, it is also necessary to advise that the President should equally give another directive for the non-kinetic component of the fight against banditry and insurgency. A robust public enlightenment campaign should accompany this renewed onslaught,” Sajoh said.

In Zamfara, residents of Shinkafi Local Government, including Salisu Tunga and Aminu Bello, praised recent military gains but urged for intensified operations.

“Bandits are still harassing some communities in Shinkafi, raising the need for more intense military operations to complete the job. Up to now, travellers need military escort in areas like Dansadau, Magami, Dangulbi, Zurmi, Kauran Namoda, Shinkafi, Moriki, Maradun, and Maru,” Tunga said.

He further lamented that some communities in Tsafe, Zurmi, and Bukkuyum LGAs were still being forced to pay levies to bandits, stressing the need for decisive action.

In Kebbi, the Deputy Governor, Sen. Umar Tafida, confirmed that bandits were infiltrating from neighbouring states and Niger Republic but assured that security measures were in place to counter the threats.

The Director in charge of Security at the Kebbi Cabinet Office, Alhaji AbdulRahman Usman, highlighted significant progress in securing the state.

“They used to attack Argungu, Augie, and Arewa Local Government Areas but have been chased away and dealt with,” Usman said.

In Sokoto, Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Ahmad Aliyu, Col. Ahmad Usman (Rtd), described the presidential order as timely, noting that military operations were yielding results.

“Many terrorist enclaves were identified and destroyed, with several bandits neutralized. Hundreds of kidnapped victims are also being rescued in the ongoing operations,” he said.

With the military intensifying its offensive, residents remain hopeful that the December deadline will bring an end to the scourge of banditry and pave the way for lasting peace.

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NSCDC, Army renew synergy to combat insecurity in Katsina

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Army, have strengthened their partnership to combat insecurity in Katsina State.

Mr Aminu Datti, state Commandant, NSCDC, made this known on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the 17 Brigade, Nigeria Army in Katsina.

The commandant, who said the visit was necessitated by the need to cement the already existing relationship between the two agencies, called for continuous cooperation and synergy.

“With the current trend of insecurity in the state, there should be strong collaboration among all security agencies to secure the state and the country as a whole,” Datti stated.

He noted the commitment and leadership vision of the NSCDC Commandant General, Mr Ahmed Abubakar-Audi, to foster collaboration among security agencies as one of the best strategies to combat crime.

According to the NSCDC commandant, sharing credible intelligence, joint operations and training will improve greatly with better collaboration among the two agencies.

Responding, the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Babatunde Omopariola, commended the commitment of NSCDC in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructures.

Omopariola, who commended the harmonious, working relationship between the agencies in different operations, pledged the continuous cooperation and collaboration of the agencies.

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