HOW TO STOP CORRUPT POLITICIANS FROM CONTESTING, BY LAMORDE, EFCC BOSS

• Launches ‘Red Alert on scam’
To stop corrupt politicians from contesting, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, yesterday called for an amendment to anti-graft law making suspects presumed guilty before court’s pronouncement.
This, he said, could sanitize the polity and rid it of people of questionable characters.
He said the call became imperative to restrict corrupt politicians who have cases to answer in anti-graft agencies and courts, but are still involved in the elections.
According to him, when this is done, suspects would have to be acquitted of the charges against them before being appointed into positions of authorities.
The anti-graft boss also warned the public especially applicants to be cautious of how fraudsters operate to avoid being victims.
He spoke while presenting “Red Alert on scam,” a special publication of the EFCC, to the press in his office.
The “Red Alert on scam” is an initiative of media and publicity unit of the EFCC, conceived as an enlightenment publication to educate the public on the antics of fraudsters, with a view to helping them avoid falling victims of fraud.
Lamorde, who expressed concern over the rate at which vulnerable members of the public especially youths fall victims, said, “many of our youths, desperate to get employment, have fallen into the hands of fraudsters who dupe them of the little cash at their disposal.
“Many agencies of government are targeted by syndicates of fraudsters who send out false notices of recruitment and even demand fees from unsuspecting members of the public to process their applications.
“Another dimension to the scam is for the fraudsters to create a website, purporting to be a portal for employment processing. Such would include a phone number, which the job seeker is told to call. As soon as the job-seekers calls, the fraudster begins to make financial demands, requesting the caller to deposit money in a particular bank account,” he said. The EFCC boss warned job-seekers to be wary of people who offer them jobs and always endeavour to verify information by contacting the agencies concerned.
While proffering solution to the menace, Lamorde urged the public to be cautious of giving out their bank details and jealously guard their email passwords/accounts. He also advised them to report any site making any financial demand in return for securing employment to the commission or any law enforcement agency.
The EFCC chair also denied claims that the commission was planning to arrest leaders of a political party as well as a fake letter in circulation, alleging that the EFCC is investigating a former education minister.
“I like to sound a note of warning here that the commission will no longer tolerate people dropping its name to further their political ends. The EFCC is not a political body and will not allow itself to be dragged into political fray by desperate politicians”, Lamorde said.
Source: Sun