SEMINAR ON THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC FINANCIAL

CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC) ON REDUCTION OF

CORRUPTION

(A STUDY OF ENUGU ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY

(EEDC) ABA BRANCH, ABIA STATE)

PRESENTED BY

IYIAKAIMO ODINAKACHUKWU PROMISE

2019/HND/PUB/83630

A SEMINAR RESEARCH WORK PRESENTED TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, SCHOOLOF
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT TECNOLOGY, IMO STATE
POLYTECHNIC UMUAGWO.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

AWARD OF HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA (HND) IN PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION.

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 SEPTEMBER, 2019.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This research topic is ever interesting mostly in our country Nigeria were the level of

corruption is high mostly in the public institutions or businesses like EEDC. It will

enlighten us how EFCC have contributed a lot in eradicating crimes among member.

Corruption has been the bane of sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria.

At the era of our nationalist, corruption as it were, was alien to us. But after

independence in 1960 and eventual military take hold of power, things went into

disarray, and gradually, it perpetuated by the military has exposed Nigerians to a state

of abuse of the rule of law, deprivation of fundamental human rights, vivtimization

and increase in vicious cycle of poverty Agbakoba (2001).

According to Umez (1999), “corruption is a detrimental force that hinders democracy

and represses individuals”. The military intervention in Nigeria politics in 1966,

brought the upsurge of corruption in the polity. Prior to this time, there existed the

spirit of comradeship, neutrality high efficiency et al. The dynamism, enthusiasm and

patriotism which greeted the nation, remained indelible as a pivot and rallying point

of a healthy government. Thus, Nigeria becomes a sorry state owing to the military

incursion which made Nigeria political climate to become unfortunate.

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1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Ever since the EFCC was established in the year 2003 by President

Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration to help eradicate corruption and other

related offences in the country, by a way of indicating and prosecuting corrupt public

office holders, including politicians and other high ranking personnel’s of different

organization, one would wonder if it has really ameliorated crime.

Corruption as it stands undermines democracy, it is the greatest barrier to our national

development and regrettably it consolidates do or die political culture; therefore all

legal, democratic and due process should be adopted to reduce if not totally stop the

monumental going on in the land. Ijediogor and Eze (2010) corruption has many

faces, ranging from nepotism, fraud, embezzlement, marginalization to impersonation

etc. This a times account for recruitment of mediocre into service, which is

tantamount to poor execution of job, erosion of public confidence in the service,

delay in the execution of government policies and programmes, preference of money

to a acquiring skills.

Nigeria today is faced with many problems in every sector of the economy. These

problems include the following;

a. Cognitive melodrama

b. Monetization of job opportunities

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 c. Forgery and falsification of credentials as well as deferment of age and year in
office.

d. Embezzlement and looting holders and civil servants.

Upon these problems, the researcher chooses to ask this questions in other to get

feedback for accurate information on the impact of EFCC on eradicating corruption

among member of the EEDC Aba Branch, Abia State.

a. What are the role(s) of EECC in eradicating financial crime or

corruption in Nigeria?

b. What are the causes of corruption in the organization?

c. What are the achievements of the EFCC?

d. What is the level of corruption in EEDC?

e. What measures should be adopted corruption in the

organization?

1.2 STRUCTURE OF THE SEMINAR

This seminar topic is designed to ascertain what Economic and Financial Crime

Commission have done so far to reduce the level of corruption in Enugu Electricity

Distribution Company Aba, Branch – Abia State.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 THEORETICAL WORK

This research work will be carried the following theoretical framework. The

psychodynamic theory and rational choice theory.

The psychodynamic theory was propounded by Sigmund Frend. It states that an

individual’s personality is controlled by unconscious mental processes that are

grounded in early childhood.

Rational choice theory: This theory focuses on the determinants

individual choice it assumes that an individual has a reference among

the available choice alternative that allow them to state which option

they prefer. Rational choice theory implies that criminals are rational

in their decision making and despite the consequences, that the

committing outright the punishment.

The causes of corruption are myriad and they have political and

cultural variables. Some studies point to a link between corruption

and social diversity, ethno-linguistic fractionalization and the

proportion of country’s population adhering to different religions

traditions lip set and Lenz, (2000). Yet, other studies note that

corruption is widespread non-democratic countries and particularly

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in most non xdemocratice counties and particular in countries that

have been branded neopatrinonia;l kleptocratic and prebendal, Hope,

et a! (2000); Leivis, 1996, Nora (2000). Thus the political system and

culture of a society could make citizens more prone to corrupt

activities.

i. Political office as the primary means of gaining access to

wealth.

ii. Conflict between changing moral codes

iii. The weakness of social and governmental enforcement

mechanisms.

iv. The absence of a strong sense of national community.

v. Great inequality in distribution of wealth from the foregoing, it

is evident that corruption is not peculiar to Nigeria, but it is a

viable enterprise in the society. However, the causes of

corruption in Nigeria may not deviate significantly. (if at all)

from the above factors. But some of the factors unique to

Nigeria situation include;

vi. Obsession with materialism and compulsion for shortcut to

affluence.

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2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW

The historical background to the existence of the economic and

financial crimes, commission is derived from recognition from the late

1980’s of the need to create a special interventionist agency to

investigate economic and financial crimes. At that time, the increase

of advance of fraud, with its negative impacts on, Nigeria had been

recognized. At the same time, it was recognized that the

sophistication of economic crimes were such that there might be the

need for special commission to handle its investigation and

prosecution as opposed to the regular law enforcement agencies.

By 2002, Nigeria found its way in the financial action task force’s list

of non- cooperative countries and one of the conditions the

recommendation 26 of the FATE’S then 49 recommendations which

required the creation of a financial intelligence unit. Farida el at., (20

11). Consequently, the EFCC was created in 2002 and Nigeria’s

financial it domiciled the world, static creating the EFCC was first

enacted in 2004. The EFCC started operation in 2003.

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Financial crimes commission came during Obasanjo’s second term in

office. The reason generally adduced for the statutory duplication on

anti-corruption crusade which led-to the establishment of FFCC.

According to Gboycal (1996:3) it was as if the government existed so

that corruption has accounted for the distortion and diversion of

government welfare programmes and undermined the goals and

vision of development.

The general assessment of EEDC among Nigerians is that it is a key

infrastructure in the country, whose future over the years have

largely contributed to the failure of the economy via its negative

impact on business and commercial activities and via making the

Nigeria environment unattractive to investors.

Assessing corruption in public institution in Nigeria of today from the

foregoing, it can be safely affirmed that corruption is still very much

with us in Nigeria. Even though e rating by transparency

international (TI) 2001, shows an improvement in Nigeria’s disposition

to corruption, the position is still good enough. Nigeria presently

occupies 9th position out of 91 most corrupt nations.

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THE ROLE OF EFCC IN ERADICATING CORRUPTION

i. To provide financial security and provide a level

playing field in the economy of all stakeholders.

ii. Investigate and prosecute economic and financial crimes.

Sections 47 of the enabling acts set out financial crimes to covers

several issues such as bank-frauds, tax evasion, capital futures

market frauds etc.

iii. To be the designated Nigeria financial intelligent unit.

iv. To be the national coordinator for anti-money laundering

v. To implement the provisions of the advance fee fraud act, failed

banks decree money laundering act and bank other financial

institution decree.

ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF EFCC ON

EEDC

In recent time, the Enugu, Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC)

has been at loggerhead with the EFCC over a perceive embezzlement

and mismanagement of public funds.

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It is evident that the EEDC is under pressure by the EFCC to be

efficient as well as reducing corruption and prosecuting the bad eggs

in the system. In recent time, it is evident that the operation of the

EFCC has taken a dramatically change especially as it is being

recorded in the operation of the EEDC Aba branch in Abia State

where the study was carried out.

It is obviously true to say that EFCC and other anti-corruption

agencies have to cooperate to combat corruption in the public

activities. This is because the political corruption undermines the

democratic process.

Political corruption leads to a compromise of democratic ideas, the

growth of political apathy among electors, mistrust of the electoral

process and authorities, and the consolation of authoritarian

tendencies in the polity. It is upon these problems that the researcher

reviewed in his findings. In the literature, some conditions are

considered to provide breeding ground for political corruption. For

instance political corruption thrives in politics where self interested

closed cliques collaborate as in the case of electricity sector embezzle

public funds.

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But with the concerted and painstaking efforts of the EFCC, such

animalis has been reduced drastically.

2.2 METHODOLOGY

In this research work, the researcher uses the secondary method of

data collection which involves the use of internet, newspaper and

already made articles on the existing topic. Due to time constraints,

the researcher could not use primary method to gather most useful

and first class information.

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 CHAPTER THREE

3.0 CONCLUSION

EFCC has made an impressive impact on corruption in EEDC, Aba branches

unit through its operation carried out but in other branches of EEDC as

revealed by the study. It was further revealed that the EFCC has recorded

below average performance, considering the fact that corruption in Nigeria is

systemic.

However, on the achievements of the EFCC, it was discovered that the EFCC

has infused probity among workers of EEDC, by indicating and prosecuting

corrupt workers as well as recovering stolen public funds. This is in line with

N5 billion recovered by Ademollium (2008:28) and Nexandria Mede, (April, 12,

2011); (Daily independent all Africa global media via (OMTEX). However,

sanity and seriousness among workers were not considered as an effect which

contradicts the aforementioned citations.

Therefore, the EFCC will win the fight against corruption if a holistic approach

is adopted.

Nevertheless, on the measures to adoption order to checkmate corruption in

the EEDC workers asserted that improvement on workers’ salaries, improved

working conditions, effective promotions and others are sacrosanct.

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