Reps move to curb presidential powers over EFCC chairman’s removal

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives, connected Thursday, passed for 2nd speechmaking a measure seeking to amend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 to fortify the agency’s independence, heighten operational efficiency, and trim governmental interference.

Sponsored by Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau), the measure titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, and for Related Matters (HB. 2493)” aims to align the EFCC’s operations with planetary anti-corruption standards and modernize its ineligible framework.

Presenting the measure during plenary presided implicit by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Gagdi explained that the projected amendments were designed to marque the EFCC much effectual successful tackling the increasing complexity of fiscal and economical crimes, including cybercrime, cryptocurrency manipulation, illicit fiscal flows, coercion financing, and existent estate-based wealth laundering.

He noted that the existent EFCC Act, enacted successful 2004, has go outdated and leaves the committee susceptible to governmental influence.

“The existing Act does not supply capable guarantees for the independency of the Commission, exposing it to outer interference,” Gagdi said.

A cardinal item of the projected amendment is the program to bounds the President’s powerfulness to region the EFCC Chairman. Under the existent law, the President tin region the EFCC Chairman astatine discretion for misconduct oregon inability to execute duties.

However, the caller connection would necessitate the support of two-thirds of some chambers of the National Assembly earlier specified removal tin instrumentality effect — a determination lawmakers accidental volition guarantee checks and balances and support the EFCC from undue governmental control.

“This amendment volition reconstruct nationalist confidence, heighten transparency, and guarantee that the EFCC operates arsenic an independent, professional, and transparent instauration responsive to modern realities,” Gagdi added.

Supporting the bill, Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, Chairman of the House Committee connected Financial Crimes, described the reforms arsenic timely, noting that galore emerging fiscal crimes were not anticipated erstwhile the EFCC Act was archetypal enacted 2 decades ago.

The measure was unanimously passed for 2nd speechmaking and referred to the applicable House committee for further legislative consideration.

The station Reps determination to curb statesmanlike powers implicit EFCC chairman’s removal appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.