Whistle-blowing policy: We’ve recovered N527bn, $53m, £122,88 – EFCC boss

The acting Chairman , Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , Ibrahim Magu , on Thursday said the agency had recovered over N 527bn , $ 53 m and £ 122, 89 through the whistle – blowing policy initiated by the Federal Government in December 2016 .Speaking in Port Harcourt during a town hall meeting on whistle – blowing and the fight against corruption in Nigeria, Magu stated that as of May last year , the commission had recovered the sums after members of the public reported corrupt persons with ill – gotten money .

Magu explained that the policy had created avenue for patriotic Nigerians to report criminal acts , which were inimical to the growth and development of the country.

He said , “ As at May 2018 , we recovered over N 527bn , $ 53 m and £ 122, 89 through the whistle – blowing policy . More successes are being made and the response by members of the public to the policy has been very encouraging .

“ The government ’ s whistle – blowing policy , which was introduced in 2016 , is geared towards fraud detection , tracking and reporting to appropriate agencies and to enable patriotic citizens to report criminal acts such as mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets , like properties and vehicles ; financial malpractice or fraud; collecting /soliciting bribes; corruption ; diversion of revenues; unapproved payments ; splitting of contracts; procurement fraud; kickbacks and over – invoicing . ”

Represented by Usman Mukhtar , a top official of the anti – graft agency , Magu further stated that some of the challenges inhibiting more Nigerians from reporting unscrupulous persons in the society to the appropriate anti – graft agency was the fear of victimisation or attacks .

He added that the fear of victimisation by whistle – blowers was currently being addressed by the Whistle – Blower Protection Act passed by the National Assembly in 2017 .
“ Many would – be whistle – blowers are afraid of reprisals , attacks and other attendant risks involved in volunteering information about suspicious activities around them . However , this challenge is already addressed by the Whistle Blower Protection Act passed by the National Assembly in 2017 .

“ The Act provides that a person who makes a disclosure shall not be subject to victimisation by his or her employers or by fellow employees.

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