The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday accused banks of facilitating money laundering crime in the country as well as hoarding information on financial crimes.
The EFCC also said it was launching an all-inclusive probe into the banking sector in order to safeguard the nation’s economy.
Chairman of the commission, Mrs Farida Waziri, made these known when she received a delegation of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in her office in Abuja.
A statement issued by commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, quoted the EFCC boss as saying that “we should partner with you because each time there is an occurrence of money laundering, there is always insider connection.”
She said “though banks comply with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) directives to report all financial transactions, the reports in most cases are incomplete,” adding that “the banks give you what they want rather than what you want.”
Farida reportedly called on the banks to put their houses in order and avoid being used as tools in the hands of those who are determined to ruin the country through money laundering.
She challenged banks to live up to their responsibility by giving the anti-graft agency genuine information on money laundering activities going on in the sector.