Group Seeks EFCC Action on Lottery Commission Probe

A non-governmental organisation, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Minister of Special Duties & Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, not to shield any employee of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) from investigation and prosecution, over allegations of corruption.

The Secretary, Association of Civil Servants of Nigeria, NLRC unit, Mrs Anastasia Ijobo, had urged the EFCC to probe, what in her opinion, amounted to suspicious transactions by the leadership.

The EFCC had invited some staff of the Commission for interrogation, but no charges have been filed.

GICN, in a statement by its Director in charge of Welfare and Logistics, Mr. Akumabi Ojogbane, said no action has been taken on its June 6, 2020 petition to Senator Akume, EFCC, and other relevant bodies. It urged the EFCC to ensure that no one named in the petition, is shielded by virtue of his or her connections in Government.

The Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, Magnus Ekechukwu, speaking during the picketing of the Commission by the staff in September, denied the allegations against the NLRC management. He wondered how over N2billion could be diverted in this era of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). He denied any fund diversion, or mismanagement by any official.

Ekechukwu noted that the Buhari administration has zero-tolerance for corruption, and will not spare any corrupt official.