By ABIRHIRE THOMAS
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Abdulrasheed Bawa, has called on youths across the country to shun internet fraud and join the Agency in combating economic and financial crimes.
He gave this charge, on Saturday September 24, 2022, while delivering a speech on “Inherent risks on Cyber/Internet fraud” at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dakwo Mega Region, Abuja.
Bawa, who spoke through Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE Joseph Yetwi, stated that cyber fraud was rampant among youths within the ages of 14 to 40. He stressed that corrupt practices have no sacred place, including schools, offices, governments, courts, churches or mosques.
He gave some references of corrupt figures in the Bible, pointing out that they never ended well. He, therefore, urged parents to always conduct due diligence on their children, by following Proverbs 22: 6, which says, “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.
“Exodus 20:15 also says that “You shall not steal.” It is important to note that all forms of financial crimes are directly and indirectly theft or stealing. So there are many more passages of the Bible that emphasized God’s disapproval of financial crimes and corruption. It is clear that there is no place for a fraudster or corrupt person in the Kingdom of God, if anyone engages in these vices, he or she will suffer punishment from God and man” he said.
Bawa called for collective responsibility of every stakeholder in tackling economic and financial crimes, including all law enforcement agencies, judiciary, religious bodies, non-governmental organizations, NGOs, and the general public.
