From Fred Itua, Abuja
The use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a revenue collection agency, has been condemned by a Civil Society Group, Act for Positive Transformation Initiatives( APTI).
At a press conference in Abuja, members of APTI said that allowing the anti-graft agency to collect revenue under any guise, was a flagrant violation of EFCC’s Act.
One of the leaders of the group and Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy & Programmes (APTI), Kolawole Johnson, said EFCC had been involved in collecting 3% of the total annual budget of oil-producing companies on behalf of the NDDC.
But EFCC said the management of NDDC has not complained about any missing money collected on their behalf.
A staff of the Commission told Daily Sun that until NDDC complains, claims made by the Civil Society group should be ignored.
The Civil Society scribe noted that assuming the role of revenue collection by EFCC, outside its major responsibility of fighting graft, was a needless diversion and a threat to its mandate.
According to him, EFCC should immediately account for over N500 billion which it has allegedly collected on behalf of NDDC and discontinue with such diversionary act.
He added: ” Of note, by law, EFCC is not a revenue collection agency and thus, cannot make itself one through the back door through hoodwinking and instrument of blackmail”.
He further demanded that EFCC should “Immediate discontinuance of demand for the 3% of the total annual budget of the oil-
producing companies operating onshore and offshore in the Niger Delta, including the gas-producing companies”.