EFCC strengthens media ties with Matashiya TV to combat economic crimes

The Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kano Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC,  ACE1 Friday S. Ebelo, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to leveraging media collaboration as a critical tool for crime deterrence and public education. He stated this in Kano on Wednesday, while receiving the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matashiya TV, an online television platform, on a courtesy visit to his office.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, Ebelo emphasized that the media remains a core stakeholder in the EFCC’s mandate to investigate, prevent, and prosecute economic and financial crimes.  He noted that the Commission’s vision is to achieve a Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes, a goal that cannot be realized without the active partnership of the media.

“Whatever we do, if it is not properly reported to the populace in the form of education and crime deterrence, we will not be able to go further.  The media is a core partner in progress.   From the beginning, our Public Affairs Department has coordinated the media angle of our operations, and it is on this premise that we seek to further reaffirm our support and partnership.”

The Zonal Director highlighted that the EFCC’s mandate covers a broad spectrum of offences, including cybercrime, fraud, money laundering, public sector corruption, and economic sabotage. He stressed that publicizing these efforts is essential to deterring potential offenders and enlightening the public, particularly the youth.

In his remarks, the Chairman/CEO of Matashiya TV, Abubakar Murtala Ibrahim, expressed the platform’s desire to establish a working and sustainable relationship with the Commission.

He noted that Matashiya TV focuses on journalism, community development, and youth empowerment, having trained over 3,000 youths in various professional skills since its establishment ten years ago.

He explained that the platform has designed programs specifically aimed at enlightening the youth to steer them away from cybercrime and violence. “We have ideas and programs to enlighten the people, especially the youth, because we believe this will reduce their engagement in cybercrime and related violence,” the CEO stated, soliciting the EFCC’s partnership in this regard.

The visit concluded with both parties agreeing to foster a robust working relationship to advance the fight against economic and financial crimes in Kano and beyond.