By editor.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has urged working journalists to embark on investigative reporting that will lead to exposing those that financing terrorism and other fraudulent activities in the North-East region.
Mr Abdulrashed Bawa gave the charge during a one-day workshop for some journalists on Financial Crimes Reporting held in Maiduguri on Thursday.
Bawa was represented by the North East Zonal Commander Mr Oshodi Johnson, the Chairman noted that the region has witnessed the proliferation of NGOs, where some engaged in fraudulent activities and terrorism financing.
He stressed that such reportage on fraudulent activities perpetrated by some Non-governmental organisations and NGOs in the region would help the commission to reduce criminal elements in the society.
He said, “As a consequence of the insurgency in this region, we now have a proliferation of Non-governmental organisations doing charity work in the region which is commendable, unfortunately, the activities of a very few charlatans have called the altruistic commitment of others to question,” Bawa stressed.
While collaborating on the account, Assistant Director public affairs of the Commission, Mr Dele Oyewale, who presented his paper titled ”Investigative Journalism and Nigeria’s Fight against Money,” said that investigative reporting would help in exposing those engaging in public funds embezzlement and money laundering in Nigeria.
He noted that Nigerian media should focus on investigative and developmental journalism rather than sensational news.
According to him, journalists should intensify efforts in investigative skills to facilitate the fight against corruption by exposing incidences in society.
“The fight against corruption can be won if you journalists discharge your responsibilities professionally by engaging in investigative journalism with a focus on social justice and accountability.
“This workshop was organized as a way of interfacing with journalists and deepening the relationship between the Commission and the media,” he said.
In his remarks, State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Dauda Iliya the training was timely, while describing the training as the first of its kind in the state, requested the Commission to organise more capacity building for journalists to further equip the working journalist’s adequate skills to carry out investigative reports.
