BY Taye Obateru
Jos—A group, Journalists Network Against Laundering/Terrorism Financing, Nigeria has hailed the recent arrest of some former governors by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying it would help restore confidence in the organization.

The group in a statement at the end of its quarterly meeting said the arrests coming at a time when many were accusing the commission of compromising on its objectives was a welcome development.

The statement signed by the Coordinator, Mr. Andrew Agbese said the move was a re-affirmation of the determination of the commission to fight corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes.

According to group, “the prosecution of such high profile cases involving serving and former public officials is long overdue as people were beginning to feel that there are some untouchables in the society who cannot be brought to justice despite the level of their crime due to the positions they have held in the society.

”The culture of lack of transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds and other forms financial recklessness by public officers in Nigeria has continued unabated with the few public officials living in obscene affluence while the living condition of the mass of the people has continued to deteriorate in the face of increase in resources earned by government.”

It called for diligent prosecution of cases already in court or those already investigated and found to have cases to answer so as not to send the wrong signals to Nigerians.

The Network is a product of the effort by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, to mobilise and enhance the capacity of media practioners to take ownership of information disemmination and raise awareness against the negative effects of transtional organized crime in the West African sub-region.

It called for cooperation among various security agencies to avoid creating loopholes exploited by suspected criminals to avoid prosecution.

It added that “all monies recovered in the process must be properly accounted for and appropriated by the National and state Assemblies to avoid the suspicion that the recovered loot are not returned to the system but serve as convenient funds to be looted by serving public officials.