Bishop Seun Adeoye of the Worldwide Anglican Church (WAC) in West Africa, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of ignoring a petition by a whistleblower on an alleged $7.5million fraud, involving some individuals working with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.
By allegedly sweeping whistleblowers’ information under the carpet, the cleric lamented that Nigeria was awfully stinking, as corrupt practices among public office holders appeared to be on the increase under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Besides, the cleric regretted that efforts by some few courageous Nigerians to help in the fight against corruption in the country were not being encouraged as anti-grafts bodies’ activities appeared to be slow and selective.
Adeoye in a statement issued on Sunday, in Okinni, Osun State and titled, “Let’s weep for Nigeria” said EFCC’s failure to work on the information supplied by the whistleblower was not helping the effort of the present administration at the centre to flush corruption out of the Nigerian system.
The clergyman, who doubles as the spokesman of the World Bishops’ Council (WBC) in Africa, explained further that an organisation also issued a statement on the said alleged scam but nothing was done.
According to the bishop, “we are told that nothing can happen to the big men in this corporation.”
He said, “Our group, The Lightbearers, issued a statement in support of the whistleblower, Alhaji Ibrahim Farouk, a man of known address, who gave details of how the alleged monumental insurance fraud on the 2020/2021 NNPC insurance renewals was perpetrated.
“Farouk sent his petition directly to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu and explained how the premium for the insurance of corporation for the 2020/2021 was inflated by over 20 per cent of the original figure and how the brokers to the business during a meeting held early February this year in London raised objection and pointed out the discrepancy which amounted to about $7.5m (N2.7billion).”
He said the man further stated that the brokers insisted that the action was not right and it was done at the expense of the NNPC but back in Nigeria, the insurers and the management of NNPC signed off the documents with the inflated premium.
The clergy man said, “As a Nigerian, I am very sad to see how terrible Nigeria situation is. We have millions of our children without education or food on their tables and millions of Nigerians battling extreme poverty on a daily basis. Yet, a few individuals covet our commonwealth and leave majority of others struggling for survival.
“The few corrupt individuals claimed they are powerful. But, I know they cannot defeat all of us. The essence of the Whistleblower’s Law made by the government is to fight corruption. So, I urge the President not to bow and I call on EFCC to, without delay, treat Farouk’s petition and other petitions before it. I know we can win the war.”
