Dear EFCC, Sanity Has A Price

About two weeks ago, I got a call from a friend, who is
currently studying for a master’s degree in the United States. She
was in a dilemma; the dilemma of virtually every Nigerian student
abroad, who are attempting to use local examples from Nigeria to
explain global concepts and think up solutions. The dilemma of
telling the story of Nigeria as its ambassador in your class,
without shaming your country in the process.

How do you explain to a class of 44 students from 31 countries
that a former group managing director of your country’s oil company
stashed or buried $9.8 million in a safe in his village without
getting questions like; “are there no banks in Nigeria?” Need you
explain that monies are now being hidden in septic tanks in your
great country?

In a friend’s class at the London School of Economics and
Political Science earlier in 2018, he was asked to explain how a
snaked swallowed $100,000 (N36 million). How does one
explain the drama involved in the disappearance of
such money, and how Madam Philomena was only
transferring her responsibility to a mindless reptile.

My friend wanted to speak to the Muhammadu Buhari
anti-corruption war without portraying Nigeria as a den of thieves.
How to flaunt cash the Ikoyi cash, and maintain that Nigeria is a
country of sanity, law, and order. How not discourage future
investors with a 20-minute presentation on one of the best
financial policies out of Nigeria.

Based on my experience trying to balance the chaos in Nigeria
and the country’s potential for great things, I advised that she
stress the results more than the process. Stress the fact that we
recovered millions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of pounds, in
our the anti-graft war. To somehow let the end justify the
means.

As I explained how best I thought this should go, I was troubled
within myself. It felt like I was not making so much sense to
myself. I was convinced there had to be a better way to do these
things. I began thinking around how to fight corruption without
embarrassing our nation in the process.

In Nigeria, I may be so critical of Nigeria, but once I am
outside the country, I am defending the country like I have been
paid to do so. Indeed, living in her for upwards of 27 years — my
feeblest years — is enough payment for a lifetime defence. But we
have to do better.

EFCC CAN DEFINITELY DO BETTER

Last week at  Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “bursted” a duo who
were “attempting to launder over $2.8 million” in Nigeria. The
Commission arrested the “criminals” and immediately released a
press release, stating that it had caught some “money launderers”.
The EFCC did not use those words, but the spirit of what was
released to the public was clearly to mean these words.

“The EFCC, Enugu Zonal Office, on Thursday, December 20, 2018,
intercepted $2.8million (Two Million, Eight Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars), from two people, suspected to be money
launderers,” the commission said in its press
release announcing the “crime”.^[1]

“The suspects, namely Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel,
allegedly working for a company: Bankers Warehouse,
were nabbed based on intelligence
report.

“During interrogation, the
suspects confessed that they have been
in the business of conveying cash for ‘some notable banks’, for
over six years and were in the process of doing same for Union Bank
Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, when they
were caught.”

The choice of words — money launderers, nabbed, caught,
confessed — were disempowering, to say the least, and immediately
brand the suspects as criminals.

Less than 24 hours later, Union Bank came out to claim the
operation, stating that it was an official operation, consistent
with the rules and regulation of banking in
Nigeria. Union Bank was immediately backed by the
Bankers Warehouse, the communal body responsible for such
operations in Nigeria.

Then I thought, this may be a case of collusion to save one big
man from losing his money. But the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
has been informed and the apex bank has not said such services are
unlawful.

I conducted my independent research and found that this is
standard practice in Nigeria and indeed, the rest of the world. So
it got me thinking; what level of investigation did EFCC get to
before going to press? What did you find out or confirm before
alleging money laundering? What evidence gave them the guts to take
pictures of suspects and splash on social media as criminals?

SUSPECT PARADING IS BAD FOR THE INNOCENT

Based on the facts of the case available, Ighoh Augustine
and Ezekwe Emmanuel are innocent Nigerians in the line of their
duty. This could be you, or your father, brother, sister — this
could be any Nigerian in his line of legitimate duty. Overzealous
EFCC finds you with potentially incriminating material, which
indeed is the core of your legal trade, then in two hours, you are
in every newspaper as a suspect of some gruesome crime. This is
very damaging! This cannot be the global best practice, and I make
bold to say, it is not.

Suspect parading and press hugging by our security officials
must stop. You cannot pick up suspects, who show you their ID
Cards, confirm the bank they are working for, and give you the
necessary information, and you still take them to the cleaners as
criminals — using politically safe language.

Dear EFCC, you can shame people all you want, but please be sure
they are criminals and not just suspects. In addition to this, do
not rush to the press to win a case you know you will lose in
court. Be thorough and conclusive. Nigeria is ours to protect and
not to tear down.

Sanity has a price, please pay it.

Follow Mayowa on Twitter and other major social media
platforms @OluwamayowaTJ^[2]

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