Magu, Odinkalu speak as centre unveils whistle-blower initiative

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) will Thursday formally unveil its whistle-blower support project tagged Corruption Anonymous (CORA). The coordinator of AFRICMIL Chido Onumah, said corruption anonymous is billed as a civil society and people-centred intervention to mobilize citizens as the critical success factor in the war against corruption in Nigeria through […]

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) will Thursday formally unveil its whistle-blower support project tagged Corruption Anonymous (CORA).

The coordinator of AFRICMIL Chido Onumah, said corruption anonymous is billed as a civil society and people-centred intervention to mobilize citizens as the critical success factor in the war against corruption in Nigeria through whistle-blowing.

He said the initiative is necessary due to the realisation that the anti-corruption war is not a fight government can win on its own without the input of Nigerians.

“Late last year, as part of efforts to tackle corruption in the country, the federal government announced a whistle-blower policy which specifies 2.5 percent to 5 percent of total recovery as reward for citizens whose tips lead to recovery of looted public funds.

“Corruption Anonymous seeks to create awareness and build public confidence and support for the whistle-blower initiative, advocate for proper implementation of the policy and institutionalization of the guidelines as well as reinforce protection for whistle-blowers. Apart from serving as a platform for citizens to engage in whistleblowing, CORA would provide the tools for the media to enhance its investigative work,” Onumah said.

According to him the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Prof Chidi Odinkalu would be at the event as special guest of honour keynote speaker respectively.