Senator Chukwuka Utazi
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes, Chukwuka Utazi, says the independence of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIU) will not hinder the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Senator Utazi said this on Thursday during his appearance on Channels Television’s political programme, Politics Today.
“I want to tell Nigerians that giving the NFIU an independent existence in terms of operation and financial activities of its duties will no way water down the activities of EFCC,” he said.
The lawmaker’s comments come five months after the Senate passed a bill which seeks the establishment of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIA).
The NFIU is the country’s central agency for receiving, analysing and disseminating information as it relates to money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Prior to the passing of the bill, the Senate had taken steps to separate the NFIA from the EFCC.
