Yemisi Izuora
The Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has organised a Regional Bank Compliance Officers of some select Banks to a two-day interactive session to chart a course for a more robust relationship and partnership with the Commission in the fight against corruption.
The Zonal Head, Muhammed Isa Rabo, who hosted the bank officers on behalf of the Acting Executive Chairman, Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, appreciated the bank officials for their support and reiterated the strategic position of the bankers as a major stakeholder in the fight against corruption.
Rabo said: “It is important for us to meet periodically like this to know ourselves better, review our collaborations and form a synergy that will strengthen the continuous support and partnership between the banks and the Commission.
“You are very important to our investigations because there is no single case we do without an intervention and input from the bank.”
Meanwhile, some critical issues affecting the operations of the Commission emanating from the banking sector were painstakingly identified and discussed for urgent interventions from the management of the banks.
This, according to the Zonal Head, has become imperative to tighten all loose ends, ensure due diligence that will foster effective collaboration and help the Commission in her trace-and-trail processes of investigation.
Rabo said: “We have observed regrettably some gaps and lapses in the handlings of some of our correspondences, engagements and interfacing with the banks.
“We would like to enjoin you to take up all these issues seriously with your managements at policy making levels so that the hitches occasioned by these lapses can be addressed for us to be above board in the discharge of our duties.”
However, the Bank Compliance Officers had a common ground while responding to the observations and requests and pledged to foster a better working relationship with the Commission and ensure prompt attentions and interventions to any request from the Commission.
Some of them lamented, however, that the lapses are as a result of protracted reporting channels in the banks and the volume of deliverables expected of them.
“We are not unaware of the importance of a robust working relationship with the Commission and as such we look forward to a better collaboration,” one of the Compliance Officers enthused.