Attack: EFCC to relocate office, overhauls security nationwide

Following a dawn attack, the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission( EFCC) has decided to relocate its annex office handling
sensitive cases.

Also, while the Nigeria Police Force intensified its
investigation of the attack, the anti-graft agency was fingering
high-profile suspects.

But the EFCC has started overhauling security in all its offices
nationwide including the headquarters in Abuja

According to findings by our correspondent, the EFCC opted to
relocate its office from 30, Harper Crescent in Abuja after a
review meeting on the recent attacks on its operatives and
office.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “As part of the
implications of the attack on our annex office and constant death
threats to our operatives, we have reviewed our security
apparatchik.

“We have decided to relocate the office which was attacked to a
safer place in Abuja. This relocation is with immediate effect.

“The Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has also
directed all Zonal directors of the commission to beef up security
in all offices and facilities.

“The commission had taken the steps in anticipation of the early
completion of its headquarters.”

As at press time, no suspect had been arrested in connection
with the Wednesday attack on EFCC annex office.

The top source added: “The police force is handling the probe,
we have left everything to their detectives to handle. We cannot be
a judge in our own case.”

But the source said the EFCC was suspecting some high-profile
suspects under investigation and some Politically Exposed
Persons.

The source said: “We are working on clues implicating some some
high-profile suspects and some Politically Exposed Persons.

“Some of these high-profile suspects had tried to influence EFCC
leadership and operatives without any success.

“We cannot be intimidated under any guise at all. We will pursue
all cases to logical conclusion.”

Some unknown gunmen, who invaded the annex office of the EFCC,
also dropped a death threat note for a senior investigator, Ishaku
Sharu, who heads the Foreign Exchange Malpractices Fraud.

In spite of its sensitive investigation and huge recovery, the
EFCC has been operating from make-shift offices and safe houses in
Abuja.

Although the Federal Government on November 27, 2010 awarded the
contract for the EFCC permanent headquarters to Julius Berger
Nigeria Plc for N18.86 billion, the project could not be completed
within the three-year timeline.

Alleged paucity of funds delayed the completion of the
project.

But the Federal Executive Council on April 26, 2017 approved
additional N5 billion for the construction of the headquarters.

During a visit to the site, the Speaker, House of
Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, assured that the EFCC will move to
its permanent headquarters this year.

He said: “Our conviction is that where the EFCC currently
operates does not give the good impression to first time visitors
in Nigeria or people who come to Nigeria to interface with the
agency as it is said that first impression counts a lot. I will be
the happiest person to see that the EFCC resumes operation in the
new building by December.”

Following a dawn attack, the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission( EFCC) has decided to relocate its annex office handling
sensitive cases.

Also, while the Nigeria Police Force intensified its
investigation of the attack, the anti-graft agency was fingering
high-profile suspects.

But the EFCC has started overhauling security in all its offices
nationwide including the headquarters in Abuja

According to findings by our correspondent, the EFCC opted to
relocate its office from 30, Harper Crescent in Abuja after a
review meeting on the recent attacks on its operatives and
office.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “As part of the
implications of the attack on our annex office and constant death
threats to our operatives, we have reviewed our security
apparatchik.

“We have decided to relocate the office which was attacked to a
safer place in Abuja. This relocation is with immediate effect.

“The Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has also
directed all Zonal directors of the commission to beef up security
in all offices and facilities.

“The commission had taken the steps in anticipation of the early
completion of its headquarters.”

As at press time, no suspect had been arrested in connection
with the Wednesday attack on EFCC annex office.

The top source added: “The police force is handling the probe,
we have left everything to their detectives to handle. We cannot be
a judge in our own case.”

But the source said the EFCC was suspecting some high-profile
suspects under investigation and some Politically Exposed
Persons.

The source said: “We are working on clues implicating some some
high-profile suspects and some Politically Exposed Persons.

“Some of these high-profile suspects had tried to influence EFCC
leadership and operatives without any success.

“We cannot be intimidated under any guise at all. We will pursue
all cases to logical conclusion.”

Some unknown gunmen, who invaded the annex office of the EFCC,
also dropped a death threat note for a senior investigator, Ishaku
Sharu, who heads the Foreign Exchange Malpractices Fraud.

In spite of its sensitive investigation and huge recovery, the
EFCC has been operating from make-shift offices and safe houses in
Abuja.

Although the Federal Government on November 27, 2010 awarded the
contract for the EFCC permanent headquarters to Julius Berger
Nigeria Plc for N18.86 billion, the project could not be completed
within the three-year timeline.

Alleged paucity of funds delayed the completion of the
project.

But the Federal Executive Council on April 26, 2017 approved
additional N5 billion for the construction of the headquarters.

During a visit to the site, the Speaker, House of
Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, assured that the EFCC will move to
its permanent headquarters this year.

He said: “Our conviction is that where the EFCC currently
operates does not give the good impression to first time visitors
in Nigeria or people who come to Nigeria to interface with the
agency as it is said that first impression counts a lot. I will be
the happiest person to see that the EFCC resumes operation in the
new building by December.”