After series of events that saw Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, misinterpreted by the Media that the Ikoyi Whistle-blower has been paid, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has revealed why he is yet to be paid his promised dues as contained in the policy.
Adeosun responded in a Statement signed by her Media Aide, Oluyinka Akintunde, that the payment is being processed and he would be paid in the November batch.
She explained that the whistle-blower money is not being withheld by the Government, rather processes and procedures are being followed to ensure legal disputes are avoided and the informants are also protected.
“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has been drawn to media reports surrounding the payment to a whistle-blower, who provided the tips that led to the recovery of funds stashed away in a property in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
“These procedures include an application by the agency who recovered the funds including evidence of the recovery, confirmation that there are no pending legal issues on the recovery, verification of the identity of the information provider, calculation of the amount payable and computation of relevant taxes.
“It must be stated also that payments are made in monthly batches to ensure control and to protect the identity of information providers. To date, over 20 of such persons have been paid. From available records, the payment due on Ikoyi is among those being processed in the November batch, which will be released within the current month.
“The Minister reiterates that the Whistle-blowing Policy of the Federal Government remains one of the current Administration’s successful initiatives and that the Government is fully committed to ensuring that all those who responded to the policy and partnered with Government in the recovery effort are paid in full and most importantly have their identity protected.”
The Federal Government Whistle-blowing Policy was introduced in December 2016 to help combat corruption in the Country.
In June, the Minister announced that the sum of N375,875,000 has been paid to 20 people that provided information which led to the recovery of N11,635,000,000.
The Policy encouraged Nigerians to report stolen or looted funds as they are entitled to 2.5 to 5.0 percent of the recovered loot.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE WHISTLE BLOWING POLICY
The whistle-blowing policy is designed to encourage Nigerians with information about mismanagement of public funds, fraud or theft to report it.
A whistleblower is the one who voluntarily disclosed information of misconduct which has happened/happening or will happen to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance.
What a whistle-blower can report includes:
1. Theft
2. Information about hidden or stolen public funds
3. Diversion of funds for personal use
4. Mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets
5. Corruption
6. Diversion of revenues
7. Collecting or requesting bribe.
A whistle-blower can report information to the Federal Government through the FMF- Whistle-blower online portal or write to the Ministry of Finance, Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit Unit or by calling 09098067946.
A whistle-blower can also submit information as an anonymous person if he does not want his identity to be known.
A whistle-blower is also protected from harassment, intimidation or victimization of any sort and should in case he suffered any, restitution will be made.
A whistle-blower is urged to report fact and truthful reports of his allegation should be true beyond reasonable doubt which should be a subject of public interest.
Information provided by whistle-blower will be investigated after it has been reviewed and analyzed and meets the requirement.
If the information provided the by whistle-blower led to voluntary return, stolen or looted funds, he may be entitled to 2.5%-5.0% of the amount recovered. To qualify for this, he must be in possession of an information it does not already have and which cannot be obtained from any other public source available to the Government.
Any false or malicious information provided by the whistle-blower will be referred to the enforcement agents for investigation and possible prosecution.
Upon providing information, an acknowledgment response will be sent and preliminary investigation, to find out if there is a violation or potential violation, will be conducted within ten (10) working days.
A whistle-blower can also monitor the status or progress report of tips submitted through a feedback mechanism provided.
