Prominent Nigerians have called on the federal government to re-affirm its commitment to the fight against all forms of economic and financial crimes including trans-border crimes particularly in the Economic Community of West-African States (ECOWAS) region.
Former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Dahiru Musdapher, the deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ikweremadu and the director-general of inter-governmental group against money laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Dr Abdullahia Shehu noted that economic and financial crimes which are manifested in various dimensions were evils which threaten the foundations of any civilised society and therefore should be eliminated at all costs.
Speaking in Abuja at a book presentation on ‘Strategies and techniques of prosecuting economic and financial crimes,’ published by the inter-governmental action group against money laundering in West Africa, Gowon, Mudapher, Ekweremadu and Shehu agreed that terrorists financing derives its strength from the proceeds of? economic and financial crimes.
GIABA was established by the authority of heads of state and government of ECOWAS with the mandate to protect the economies of member states from the laundering of the proceeds of crime.