Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun has revealed how much the Nigerian government has paid out to whistle blowers in the heightened fight against corruption in the country.
Anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, made this known in a circular released urging Nigerians to come forward with more information regarding people suspected to have been involved in corrupt practices.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, revealed that the whistle blower policy which was brought into action by the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration leading to the recovery of several billions of naira has paid out a total of N325 million to persons with valuable information leading to the recovery of illegally obtained money.
Recall that the Nigerian Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had in April stated that whistle blowers will receive 5 per cent of the amount recovered between 1 and 5 billion naira from the suspected corrupt persons.
He further explained: “For example, if a whistle-blower provides information leading to the recovery of 10 billion Naira, he or she will receive 5% of the first 1 billion Naira, 4% of the next 4 billion Naira and 2.5% of the remaining 5 billion Naira.
“What we have done by making this information public is to reassure potential whistle-blowers that the plan to reward is real. We are not just saying we will pay all whistle-blowers, but we are letting them know in advance what they are entitled to, once the information they provide leads to the recovery of looted funds.”