Information tabled before the Senate indicates that the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, has until December this year to address some issues involving its operations or risk being expelled from the group.
Our correspondent JAMES IGAH reports from the Senate that Nigeria was suspended from EDMONT because of alleged meddlesomeness by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the affairs of the NFIU.
There are also claims of alleged EFCC interference in the operations and staffing of the NFIU, resulting in the exit of many competent hands and divulging confidential information concerning activities of the EDMONT Group.
Following the development; the Senate resolved to take urgent steps to reverse the suspension of Nigerian from EDMONT, including passing a legislation to provide legal backing and autonomy for the NFIU.
The Senate believes that such move would enable the NFIU to operate independently in the employment, reward, training, promotions and discipline of its personnel.
The NFIU is also to be empowered to operate in line with international best practice, as well as to exchange and relate with other counterparts at bilateral and multilateral levels based on its mandate.
Senate President, BUKOLA SARAKI, ruled on the approved measures following a motion moved by Senator CHWUKUKA UTAZI.
The Senator, who represents Enugu North Senatorial District, underscored severe implications of Nigeria’s suspension from the global financial intelligence units group.
Our correspondent JAMES IGAH reports that the EDMONT Group sits regularly for the purpose of sharing criminal intelligence on money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation of small arms.
EDMONT’s networking against corruption, as well as financial and economic crimes is geared towards the support of local and international investigations, prosecution and asset recovery
