SIR: The intense battle against Internet fraud by operators of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is highly commendable. Indeed, with all the unrelenting activities of the EFCC, it is certain that there is no longer any hiding place for any youth who hopes to pitch his tent with Internet criminalities. By combing all hot spots where all manners of such activities take place, not sparing even the university campuses, the EFCC has shown clearly beyond any doubt that no stone will be left unturned until Nigeria is ridden of Internet criminalities.
However, it is also pertinent for members of the EFCC to wash themselves clean from all the proceeds of Internet fraud too. As the public is continually fed with information about all the areas being covered and all the arrests being made, no one seems to bother much about whatever happens to the cash and other exotic items being seized from convicted persons and this leaves out a wide gap that can be abused.
Some years ago, some members of the EFCC were exposed as quarrelling over who was to keep custody of some seized items and by such revelation, the cat was let out of the bag that the operators are perhaps acting smart by helping themselves to some of the seized items, something akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul.
There is, therefore, the need for proper accountability and monitoring of all items being seized from convicted persons so that the operators of the EFCC themselves will not be found culpable if another body is suddenly set up to investigate their activities. Those who go to equity must do so with clean hands.
Jide Oyewusi is the coordinator of Ethics Watch International, Lagos.
