The Rivers State Government has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) does not have the power to investigate financial transactions of the state.
State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim while reacting to statements credited to the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, stated that EFCC can only investigate the government when it vacates the Federal High Court judgment that declared that it cannot investigate the financial transactions of the government.
Magu had during his visit to Port Harcourt on Monday described Rivers State as headquarters of fraud.
According to him, Rivers State is second to Lagos in money laundering, adding that corruption is high in the state due to oil activities in the region.
He said that the Commission is doing its best to fight the menace which has eaten deep into the system.
The EFCC boss stressed further that the court injunction obtained by a former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, to stop the Commission from further investigation and prosecuting him will not stand the test of time.
He said the EFCC will follow the matter up to its logical conclusion, stressing that despite the fact that the matter has been taking over by event, the Commission will not relent in carrying out its duties as regards the financial crime case.
He noted that the matter which is before the Supreme Court for over thirteen years will be followed up to its logical conclusion as the perpetual injunction can no longer hold.
Meanwhile, a new Zonal Head has been appointed for the Port Harcourt Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Mr Usman Imam, an Assistant Commissioner of Police was appointed as head of the Port Harcourt zone following the redeployment of the former Head of the Zone, Abdulrasheed Bawa who was moved to the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja.
Imam, former Head of the Enugu Zone of the EFCC, hails from Taraba State.
A statement from the commission said he is thoroughbred Police Officer who joined the Nigeria Police Force in 2000 after obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri.
Shortly after his enlistment, he served in Kano State between 2002 and 2005 in various capacities.
In 2005, Imam was seconded to the EFCC where he became a Team Leader in the Advance Fee Fraud (AFF) Unit in Lagos Zonal Office. He had stints with the Economic Governance ( EG) and Asset Forfeiture Units as well as the Intellectual Property Theft Desk.
He was the founding Head, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Desk at the EFCC Headquarters, Abuja.
The new Port Harcourt’s Zonal Head has had extensive professional pieces of training in diverse fields.
In his maiden meeting with staff of the Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Imam sought the cooperation of everyone.
“We have a mission and everyone must key into the mission”, he said.
