The call by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede to the National Assembly (NASS) to enact a law that makes it mandatory for security agencies to protect whistle-blowers has generated mixed reactions on social media. Olukayode made the call on Tuesday, August 27 at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Lagos which had the theme, ‘Lawyers in the spotlight: Essential anti-money laundering considerations for the legal profession’. ..Read Full Article
His call follows an earlier one he made on Thursday, July 11, 2024, when he called for more ways for functional and effective ways of strengthening the whistle-blowing policy of the government to solidify the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
He noted that, though the policy, at its launch in 2016, received massive public acclaim resulting in considerable recoveries made by the EFCC, the momentum is no longer the same necessitating reviews, modifications and refocusing.
To improve the focus, the EFCC boss pointed out perceived weaknesses in the policy which should be addressed. One of these, he said, is the need for adequate protection for whistleblowers to shield them from persecution or punishment.
According to him, “the starting point is to emplace a legal framework for whistleblowing including a whistleblower protection law…. whistleblower protection should be broadened to include protection for insiders in various organs of government who expose wrongdoings from within”
Nigerians on X reacted with pessimism with many concerned about the safety of whistle-blowers in the care of security agencies….Read Full Article
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