media. He challenged participants to "become frontlines in the fight against
corruption if we are to achieve the country of our dream".
Musikilu Mojeed, editor-in-chief of Premium Times, an online newspaper,
in his paper, Journalism and the Fight Against Corruption, Lesson from
Abroad, challenged journalists to go beyond the ordinary in the discharge
of their duties by producing reports that could transform the society. He
cited several instances across the world including the widely publicized
Panama Papers where journalists through their stories got senior government
officials to either resign or be prosecuted. In Ghana for instance, he cited
the heroic effort of a journalist who, through undercover investigation,
exposed corrupt judges who where consequently sacked and prosecuted.
In his paper, Law, Journalists and Flight Against Corruption, Gbemiga Ogunleye,
Provost of Nigeria Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Lagos, lamented the nation's
loss to corruption. He posited that Nigeria media was critical to building a
better country and urged journalists to be factual in their reports. He said
the Nigeria Constitution envisaged the importance of the Press and urged journalists
to apply the law when necessary.
Osadolor Igiozee, in his paper, Electronic Media and Investigative Reporting,
New Trends and Opportunities posited that journalists would have to be daring
and fearless if they are to be successful in investigative reporting. He encouraged
them to look beyond the immediate gains and apply modern tools and techniques.
https://efccnigeria.org/efcc/news/2182-efcc-urges-journalists-to-be-frontlines-in-the-fight-against-graft
419 Coalition Comment: Hey EFCC,in terms of the most infamous Financial
Crime emanating from Nigeria; and journalistic and educational efforts to
counter it; how about a mention of counter-419ing non-Nigerian NGO's?
International Investigation Services (CEO Njall Hardarson) was the first
online NGO on the job back in 1996, followed a couple of months later by
us, the 419 Coalition. IIS gave counter-419ing up as pointless about a
decade ago, but they did very good work for many years, but we at 419
Coalition are still here, of course. Ultrascan Advanced Investigation
Services has done over a decade of good work, as has NExT Web Security
and Fraudaid. And there are many more. How come we never get thank-yous
or pats on the back from the Nigerian Government for a job well done?
Collectively counter-419 NGO's have collectively educated Millions, if not
Billions, of people on 419 Crime over the last 20 years, at no cost to the
Nigerian Government. One would think that the Nigerian Government would be
grateful and at least slide some accolades our way, send us a few invitations
to counter-419 conferences, coordinate with us on a regular basis, maybe
send along a few $$ here and there to assist us in our very cost-effective,
efforts, send us a medal or two - but noooooooo..... what's up with that? :)
***************************************
16 NOV 2016
From the Punch, a Nigerian newspaper:
EFCC arraigns husband, wife for $120m fraud
Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a married
couple, Mr. Augustine Ezeama and Juliet Ezeama before Justice O. H.
Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court Ikeja on seven counts of conspiracy
and obtaining money under false pretences.
According to the EFCC, the couple had on May 6, 2015, obtained $30,570
from a firm, CIFERCOM LLC under the pretext that the money was for registration
of CIFERCOM LLC as a company in Nigeria preparatory to the award of an $8m
contract to CIFERCOM LLC by the Federal Government.
One of the charges read, "That you, on Augustine Ezeama, Juliet Ezeama
and Mabrubeni Nigeria Limited, on or about the 6th of May, 2015 in Lagos
within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud,
obtained the sum of $30,570 from CIFERCOM LLC under the false pretences
that the money was for registration of CIFERCOM LLC as a company in Nigeria
preparatory to the award of $8m contract to CIFERCOM LLC by the Federal