TheCable

Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says Bureau de change operators involved in the ongoing $2.1 billion arms deal probe would not be spared.

According to Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, Magu made the declaration while speaking to bureau de change operators who paid him a visit in Abuja on Tuesday.

Magu also said existing mutual relationship between the commission and the group in the areas of sensitisation and training.

“My operatives often tell me what they see during investigations. We need to talk to you, as some of your operators are fond of carrying huge amounts of money out of the country, since they can no longer withdraw more than $300 using the ATM,” Uwujaren quoted him as saying.

“There are fraudulent involvements of bureau de change operators in the arms deal scandal. There are reports of some of your members withdrawing as much as N500million in two, three, four tranches in this arms deal scam. So, I am greatly disturbed.

“I think there should be a documentation regarding your activities, as this will enable your group to checkmate anyone who is involved in any fraudulent activity.”

Earlier, the chairman of bureau de change operators, Aminu Gwadabe, had expressed the resolve of the group to join hands with the commission in the ongoing war against corruption and economic crimes.

Gwadabe said the delegation visited the commission to congratulate Magu and seek collaboration with the EFCC.

“I want to congratulate you on your appointment as acting chairman of EFCC and pray for God’s guidance, most especially as it is a period of tough choices and decisions,” he said.

He also highlighted some major challenges that the bureau de change operators were facing from policy regulators and security agencies.

Gwadabe decried the activities of black marketers who, according to him, had been giving the licensed operators a bad name.

“Most of the time, fraud is perpetrated within the banking premises,” he said.

“However, whenever there is an issue, it is the bureau de change operators who are usually attacked. Another problem is the issue of BVN registration, which I believe should have been extended to three years in order to allow more people to be registered.”

He, therefore, urged the commission to organise seminars, workshop and sensitisation programmes, as part of efforts to improve the knowledge of the operators.