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US Describes EFCC’s Corruption Fight As Unique, Strengthens Relationship


Charles Harwood, Director, United States Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Washington DC, has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as a unique law enforcement agency in the fight against corruption in Nigeria
Harwood made the remark during a visit to the Acting Chairman, EFCC, at Commission’s Head Office, Wuse II, Abuja on March 1, 2018.
“It is important to note that the only criminal law enforcement agency aside the United States that we have relationship with is the EFCC because we have MoU and so EFCC is a unique part of the FTC”, he said.
According to him, “FTC is a civil law enforcement agency who works with the department of Justice in US and other criminal law agencies around the world to share information which could hopefully produce criminal prosecution”.
He hoped that the previous relationship built with the EFCC would be sustained especially with the MOU, adding that the FTC value and treasure the relationship and hoped the information gotten from the relationship would be used for possible prosecution either ways.
Harwood noted that the dent of corruption is a horrible damage in any country and for any country's economy. He, however, commended EFCC's efforts towards tackling the menace in Nigeria.
While highlighting of some of the achievements of his Commission Harwood said, “My office is privileged to work with Department of Justice on a number of cases that were announced on February 22, 2018 all involving mass marketing fraud schemes targeting senior citizens around the world”. 
According to him, one of the cases involved a company in the US sending deceptive messages in lottery offers to consumers around the world including Africa.
In his response, Magu expressed the readiness of the EFCC to partner the US Federal Trade Commission in the protection of consumers against corrupt acts.
“One of the strategies of EFCC is deliberately designed to build the confidence of investors both within and outside the country. We hope the collaboration would create confidence in people wishing to invest in Nigeria”, he said.
The anti-graft czar added that, “EFCC works with a lot of law enforcement agencies in the United States and such collaboration is rewarding”, stressing that “the essence of intelligence gathering cannot be deemphasized as it reduces a lot of work load”.
Harwood was accompanied on the visit by Deon Wood Bell and Bola Adeyinka from Consumer Protection Council who is the U.S Federal Trade Commission counterpart in Africa.

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