EFCC Launches Zero Tolerance Club At UniCross, Charges Students To Shun Corruption

In furtherance of its prevention mandate and programme to sensitize Nigerian students on the negative effects of financial crimes, including corruption, the Acting Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulkarim Chukkol today, July 27, charged students of the University of Cross River State-UniCross, to shun corruption, stressing that no progress can be made in any system where corruption holds sway.

Chukkol who spoke through ACE Bawa Hamidu Saidu,  Commander, Uyo Zonal Command, during the  launch of the EFCC Zero Tolerance Club at the  University’s Multipurpose Hall, noted that  corruption is responsible for the country’s  development woes, and emphasized the need for committed action against the malaise.

“We are here today, to tell you that, as students, you need to have deeper insights into the havoc being done to our nation by the monster called corruption. The EFCC tackles economic and financial crimes which include all forms of cybercrime, money laundering, tax evasion, embezzlement, forgery, employment scam among others. All these crimes are variants of corrupt practices. Internet fraud such as romance scam, business email compromise and so on are corrupt practices and must not be found among you”, he said

While urging the students to channel their creative energies into useful engagements, the EFCC boss said the essence of establishing the Zero Tolerance Club in UniCross is to “offer moral armaments against corrupt practices, to create awareness about the evil effects of corruption, to give the students the privilege to partner with the Commission through information gathering and sharing, among others”.

He charged prospective members of the Club to embrace and adhere strictly to its rules and regulations.

Speaking earlier, Professor Augustine Oko Angba, the Vice Chancellor of the university who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor  Administration, Professor Ekeng B. Ekefre, lauded the Commission for the initiative, describing it as ”timely and very crucial.

“When we get our students to know the dangers of corruption and fight it from the start, the Commission will have little to do by the time the students get into the larger society”.

The event was declared open by Mrs. Aniedi Ekpenyong, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Cross River State, who urged the EFCC to involve all levels of students, including nursery school children, in the sensitization initiative.

A total of two hundred and sixty-nine (269) students volunteered and took the oath of service which was administered by the Head Legal and Prosecution Department of the Uyo Zonal Command, DCE T. N. Ndifon.