The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 launched its “Eagle Eye” online application designed for reporting cases of crime to the commission.
The app will serve as an alternative to the traditional methods of reporting criminal acts or suspects involved in corrupt practices and not entirely as a substitute.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa noted that the staff members of the commission had conceived and created the idea of the app. He also described the app as being the very first of its kind by any law enforcement agency in Nigeria. It is also a clear demonstration of his pledge on assumption of office to manage an agency that is technology-driven.
“The Eagle Eye represents a new experience in information sharing and crime reporting between the public and the EFCC”.
Apart from complementing the existing channels for reporting crimes, the unique advantage of this application, Mr. Bawa further explained, is that it provides a form of anonymity and eliminated direct person-to-person interface in the reporting process.
Thus, is an added incentive to effective whistle blowing, and guarantees the security of anyone reporting a case of corruption to the EFCC.
He appealed to members of the public to take advantage of the App in order to bring in cases of corruption and economic crimes to the knowledge of the EFCC.
“With this App, those who hitherto were afraid to report corruption cases to the Commission either for fear of being identified by the culprits or having their identities revealed, can now do so with the assurance of full anonymity”.
“With the Eagle Eye, you have at your fingertips a device that will ultimately ensure that there is no hiding place for the corrupt in Nigeria”.
Mr. Bawa further explained that the app is user-friendly and can be navigated by an illiterate person. The app works by first downloading it to your device from Apple or Google Playstore, then click on report case/incident, upload the image of the suspect you wish to report with location details and then provide certain personal information about yourself.
He also urged citizens interested in keying into the whistle-blowing policy of the Federal Government to indicate in the information they are providing; just he said there are penalties clearly stipulated in the laws, for giving false information that could mislead the Commission.
