The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has charged Nigerian journalists to engage in investigative reporting which will lead to exposing those that financing Boko Haram terrorist activities in the North-East region.
Assistant Director public affairs department, Mr Dele Oyewale, while presenting his paper titled ”Investigative Journalism and Nigeria’s fight against money” during a one-day training organized by the commission for journalists in Borno and Yobe on Thursday in Maiduguri, said that investigative reporting would help in exposing those engage 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.
He said journalists have roles to play in the fight against corruption, saying “for us to fight corruption in our dear country, we have to be bold and fearless in our reportage.”
Earlier speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, challenged journalists in the Northeast region to investigate the activities of NGOs through fact findings.
He said journalists should investigate and engage in investigative reporting in order to know those financing terrorist activities, particularly Boko Haram.
Bawa was represented by the Maiduguri Zonal Commander of the Commission, Oshodi Johnson, who stated that “Section 56 of the Terrorism Act also empowers the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, which is now domiciled in the EFCC, to refuse or revoke the registration of any NGO linked to terrorist groups.”
The commission has promised to continue to partner with journalists in an effort to ensure fair reporting of financial crimes in Nigeria.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
