The survey rated the EFCC as the sixth government agency likely to demand a bribe.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, has described a survey conducted by a Non-Governmental Organisation that the anti-corruption agency is among the most corrupt government agencies in the country as “misleading” and directed to “impinge the integrity” of the commission.
The 2013 National Crime Victimization and Safety Survey conducted by CLEEN Foundation published on Monday with support from the MacArthur Foundation placed the EFCC as the sixth government agency likely to demand a bribe with 23 per cent propensity to demand bribe.
The Nigerian Police Force was rated as the most corrupt agency with 33 per cent propensity to demand bribe; followed by the Immigration Services (26 per cent);Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, (25 percent); Customs (24 per cent); and Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, (23 per cent).
Also, the survey rated Enugu State as the crime capital of the country with 70 per cent of respondents saying they have been victims of crime in the past year.
The EFCC, however, says it does not agree with the result of the survey.
“The Commission considers its integrity as a core value and has toiled relentlessly to sustain its reputation as an effective law enforcement organisation with zero tolerance for corruption. It will therefore not fold its hand while some arm chair researchers desperate to justify a grant, use the result of a spurious survey to cast aspersion on its integrity,” said EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement.
While accusing CLEEN Foundation of making “sweeping conclusion” generated from” friends and cronies”, Mr. Uwujaren challenged the organisation to release details of the questionnaire it used to conduct the survey.
“If we may ask, how many people in Borno, Ekiti , or Cross River states have come in contact with operatives of the EFCC to be able to make informed opinion as to whether they are corrupt or not? Which towns, local governments and wards did the survey cover? What questions were asked; what response evaluation methods were used?” the anti-crime agency said.
While vouching for the integrity of its operatives, the EFCC said it is dealing with rampant cases of impersonation of its operatives which might have influenced the notion that the commission was corrupt.
Mr. Uwujaren, however, advised the public to report operatives of the commission caught demanding bribes.
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