Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday vowed to review operations at the country’s anti-corruption watchdog, saying the image of rampant swindling was hurting legitimate investment.
Jonathan told a Washington think-tank that Nigeria’s infamous “419” cyberscammers — they defraud victims with offers of money in exchange for help in moving large sums to foreign banks — had become a “major threat” to direct foreign investment in sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest economy.
“A businessman doesn’t really know who to talk to,” Jonathan said, although he added that the victims in these scams were often largely themselves to blame.
“Sometimes people are very greedy, and it is very easy to dupe a greedy person,” he said.
Jonathan, who was in Washington for this week’s nuclear security summit, acknowledged perceptions that the oil-rich nation’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had become less aggressive in pursuing economic crimes.
“We are going to look into the organization, because for people to bring their money to invest in the country, they must be sure of who (they) are dealing with,” he said.
Respected former EFCC chief Nuhu Ribadu, who has spent a year in voluntary exile, has said he is ready to return home and would be willing to serve under Jonathan if asked.
Nigerian authorities dropped a legal case against Ribadu last week, potentially opening the door for his return to the agency, which under his stewardship won international praise for arresting suspects and seizing illicit assets.
Jonathan did not directly address the prospect of a return by Ribadu, but he did indicate he planned to carry through on pledges to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.
Jonathan, who has assumed executive powers in the absence of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua, also repeated assurances that Nigeria’s scheduled elections next year would be free, fair and credible.
“I have no fear about conducting clean elections,” Jonathan said. “I agree with those who clamor for credible elections. if the elections are not credible, you will not produce credible leaders.”