Nigerian NGO urges EFCC to act on lottery commission investigation

Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), has pressured the Economic and Fraud Crime Commission (EFCC) not to exclude any National Lottery Regulation Commission delegate or employee from an investigation following widespread allegations of corruption.
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A Nigerian non-governmental organisation, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), has pressured the Economic and Fraud Crime Commission (EFCC) not to exclude any National Lottery Regulation Commission delegate or employee from an investigation following widespread allegations of corruption. 

As reported by The Nation Online, staff from the Commission launched strike action this month after accusing management of being over-forceful with its power. However, GICN stressed that this does not make employees immune from investigation. 

Allegations of misappropriated funds at the NLRC have been rife in recent months, with several organisations calling for an official investigation to be launched into the Director-General’s office.

The EFCC has reportedly invited several members of staff for interviews related to the investigation, though no charges have been brought forward. Additionally, the DG, Lanre Gbajabiamila, has not been questioned. 

As a result, GICN has urged the investigation body to do more to uncover and charge those alleged of fraudulent activity. 

In a statement, the pressure group said no action has been taken on its petition from June 2020 to the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs Senator George Akume, EFCC and other relevant bodies, in relation to the lottery commission.

This comes at a time when Gbajamila promised an industry boom after reforms made in 2017 begin to ‘improve performance.’  

Gbajabiamila said that the 2017 reforms are now beginning to yield positive results. Changes implemented are upgrading the lottery’s business with an emphasis on improving workers’ rights and enhancing the overall business environment to help boost the financial performance of the lottery.