Ibrahim Lamorde, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged western countries to stop impoverishing developing countries by helping in the return of stolen funds.
The chairman, who was speaking during a visit by two officials of Amnesty International (AI), also debunked the allegation that suspects who are being investigated for alleged corrupt practices by the commission are made to give their statements under duress.
He the state-of-the-art recording facilities in the EFCC’s interrogation rooms would not allow any interrogator to humiliate a suspect. While expressing gratitude to the Amnesty International team for opening an office in Abuja, Lamorde also described corruption as the worst type of human rights abuse, adding that AI must continue to lend its voice to the anti-corruption war in Nigeria. ‘‘Western countries must end the impoverishment of developing countries. They must reject and return stolen funds, so that respective governments of the affected developing countries could use the money to better the lives of the poor in their countries. It is the common wealth of the people that has been diverted for private use. So, it is the worst form of human rights abuse. When corruption and impunity become the order of the day, human rights abuses flourish.
‘‘When you consider the cause of water-borne diseases suffered by people in the rural areas, it is because someone has diverted the funds meant for pipe-borne water in those areas. Also, when you consider the fact that our hospitals lack the basic amenities, it is because some people have kept the funds allocated to the hospitals to themselves. I, therefore, urge you to consider partnering with the EFCC,’’ he said.
In his remark, Mr. Colm Cuanachain, senior director, Office of the Secretary General of Amnesty International, said that only nations that take anti-corruption war seriously could experience ‘‘phenomenal growth’’. Cuanachain, who further expressed the readiness of AI to partner EFCC, also talked about the activities of the AI in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he said corruption had contributed to human rights violation.
