EFCC has granted autonomy to NFIU – Magu

The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu Wednesday told the Senate that the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has been granted autonomy.

Magu, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, to defend the performance of 2017 budget of his agency, promised to submit details of recovered loots by the agency to the committee.

He told the committee that starting from January 1, 2018, NFIU would begin operation as independent outfit.

The Daily Times recalls that the Egmont Group had suspended Nigeria as a result of alleged interference by the EFCC in the workings of the NFIU.

The group also asked the country to amend its law establishing the NFIU to make it independent or be prepared to be expelled by January 2018.

But Magu told the committee that the NFIU has a separate budget from that of the EFCC.

He said, “We have allowed NFIU to go. The unit operates in an an autonomous manner, independent of the EFCC. We have given the unit financial autonomy. I also wish to state that N800million was proposed for the unit in 2018 Budget.

But the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, said the N800 million proposed for NFIU is not enough for the body to conduct its work.

Utazi noted that “N800 million cannot go anywhere if you want them to work, they need to be properly funded and equipped.”

The senator also requested for pay roll of the 96 workers under the NFIU from the head of the agency.
According to Utazi, there is the need for the committee to know the work force of NFIU.