The Human and Environmental Development Agenda, also known as HEDA Resource Centre, has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Economic Financial Crime Commission to crack down on corrupt politicians who engage in illicit fund flow transactions with commercial banks and vote buying ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.
The call comes after the Supreme Court ruled that the old N1000, N500 and N200 notes will continue to be legal tender until December 31.
HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, issued a press statement on behalf of the anti-corruption group, stating that the continued circulation of old Naira notes as legal tender could create loopholes in the fight against corruption and insurgency in the country.
Suraju further urged the Central Bank and other financial institutions to take measures to track and counteract illicit money flow transactions by corrupt politicians and their allies.
He called for increased scrutiny by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit and the EFCC to track bank officials, estate managers and Bureau de Changes for suspicious movement of toxic funds within and outside the financial institutions.
Additionally, Suraju raised concerns about the potential increase in vote-buying during the upcoming gubernatorial elections, given the availability of old Naira notes.
He called on the EFCC to sustain its commendable efforts in curbing vote-buying tactics by politicians and to work with other law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts against vote-buying ahead and during the gubernatorial elections on March 11.
