Law Enforcement Agencies Pledge Support for EFCC in South-East

Law enforcement agencies in Enugu State have echoed their unwavering support to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  in its bid to tackle economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption  in the South-East.

This support came when the Acting Zonal Director of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC,  ACE I Aisha Abubakar paid courtesy visits to Sunu Wadahi Abel, Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,  Enugu State Command; Comfort Ukpanah,  Customs Area Comptroller, Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi Commands; Franklin Agbakoba, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Enugu; Prisca Chioma Oku, Comptroller of Corrections, Nigeria Correctional Service, Enugu; and Dr. Willie Elijah Etim, Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC. 

During her visit to Abel on Thursday, April 10, 2025, Abubakar, who said that the fight against money laundering has assumed a disturbing and alarming dimension in the South-East, noted that as part of the core values of the Commission, the EFCC collaborates with its stakeholders in line with its mandate. She called for a more synergized partnership to enable the two agencies to achieve more success.

“In line with the core values of the EFCC, in everything we do, we always collaborate with sister agencies. Over time, internationally, we noticed that most times, security agencies play a reactive role in investigating crimes and most times, law enforcements work in isolation but we want to see a situation where there will be a better, more united and synergized collaboration among our stakeholders. This will enable us to achieve more success”, she said.

While calling for effective intelligence sharing, Abubakar sought for joint operations between the two agencies in order to tackle the menace of money laundering and put a stop to illegal dealing in narcotics in the South-East, adding that “there is no better time to strengthen the synergy than now”.

“Concerning money laundering, you find it in what you do and we do not take the fight against lightly. Also,  when you look at our youths, most times you see that they are usually high. Once you find them, you will see that they are into drugs. So, I am looking at a situation where we can have joint operations because most times when we go for arrests, we meet them with all sorts of drugs which lead them to commit other crimes like kidnapping and murder. So,  we want intelligence sharing, we want collaboration and cooperation between us. When we have intelligence that is useful to you, we share with you and when you have something, you share with us.  Together, we stand and divided we fall”, she said.

Responding, Wadahi appreciated the Acting Zonal Director for the visit and also pledged his support for the Commission, towards actualizing its mandates.

At the Nigeria Customs Service, Enugu State, Abubakar noted that as one of the board members of the Commission, the Customs remains a strategic stakeholder in the fight against illicit financial activities. She said that over the years, the two agencies have enjoyed a robust relationship, adding that the essence of her visit was to strengthen the  relationship to enable the two agencies record more achievements.

“We have an existing relationship on collaboration. I know it’s been going on. I just came to leverage on it to continue. Where we can expand, there is no end to it. If we can do better, we will do better. Intelligence sharing is very key for both sides because, there is no way we can fight illicit financial flow, corruption, economic and financial crimes without working together’, she said.

In her response, Ukpanah commended the Commission for “creating a new paradigm in tackling corruption and financial crimes”.   According to her, “we have seen the consistent efforts of the EFCC towards a total stoppage in money laundering, illicit financial activities, smuggling of wildlife and other endangered species of financial crimes”. She thereafter assured Abubakar of her unwavering support.

At the Federal Road Safety Corps on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the Acting Zonal Director noted that the essence of her visit was to solidify the existing relationship between the two agencies. “We are here to sanitize the country and we know there is no way we can achieve this without the assistance of other sister agencies. We are very big on collaboration and in the light of that, we always reach out to solidify and consolidate that”, she said.

In his response, Agbakoba assured Abubakar of sustaining the synergy between the two agencies. “The FRSC and the EFCC have always worked hand in hand. There are issues we will have and whenever we call on your agency, they always support. Some of our personnel were trained by your agency and going forward, I assure you that the synergy will be sustained”, he said.

In the same vein, Oku and Etim reiterated their readiness to support the Commission to achieve its mandate in the South-East.  They gave this assurance on Thursday, April 17, 2025 when Abubakar paid them courtesy visits in their offices. According to Oku, “the relationship has always been there and I will support you and make sure the partnership continues”.

In her response, Abubakar lauded Oku for services to the nation and sought for improved collaboration. “Just like every other Director before me, I am here to seek your cooperation towards the greater good of the country. I know that whatever we do translates to what you do. We bring the guests to you. So I felt my work would not be complete unless I came to you, to thank you for all that you have been doing for the service and then to seek further collaboration ”, she said.

At the NSCDC, Enugu State Command, Etim commended Abubakar for the visit and pledged his agency’s unwavering support. “On my agency’s part, I assure you that we will support you as we enjoy the synergy”. he said.  

---

Media & Publicity

April 21, 2025

Credit: EFCC Nigeria