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The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said he cannot publicly reveal the names of terrorism financiers in the country.
Speaking on Channels Television Programme, ‘Politics Today’, Bawa said he cannot discuss a sensitive national security issue on national television, adding that Nigerians will know the identities of terrorism financiers in the country at the right time.
“If you are my adviser will you advise me to come on national television to tell the whole world regarding matters of sensitive national security issue?”
“Certainly not. But what I want to assure you is that we are working tirelessly with other sister agencies to ensure that this country is free of terrorism,” he said.
When further asked whether it was appropriate for the government to conceal the identities of terror financiers whose activities have led to the killing of thousands of innocent lives, the EFCC boss said: “Of course, transparency is one of the bedrock(s) of this administration. Of course, I am not a spokesman for this administration, but I believe that at the right time Nigerians will get to know those that are financing terrorism in this country and beyond as well.
“These are issues that are beyond the borders of this country and we are working tirelessly with our partners overseas as well as other sister agencies at home. We are working, it is not something we should come out to say that these are the modus operandi that we are adopting.”
Bawa, who collapsed during an official function at the Presidential Villa earlier on Thursday, also said he had seen his doctor and “everything about me is okay, except for the fact that I’m a bit dehydrated and I need to take a lot of water.”
Speaking on the incident, he said: “While giving my goodwill message during the programme, I was a bit dizzy and I had to excuse myself from the stage.
“And of course I went straight to the hospital, where my doctor confirmed to me that everything about me is okay.”