The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) does not obtain statement from suspects under duress, its chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, said yesterday.
He said the state-of-the-art recording facilities in the EFCC interrogation rooms would not allow any investigator to humiliate a suspect.
He, however, pleaded with Western nations to reject and return stolen funds.
Lamorde, who made the clarifications during a visit by two officials of Amnesty International (AI), said corruption was the worst form of human rights abuse.
He said: “The EFCC follows the rule of law. Our statements are recorded and are not taken under duress. Our rooms have cameras in them. So, it is not possible to humiliate anyone.”
He urged Western countries to continue to reject and return stolen funds.
Lamorde added: “Western countries must end the impoverisation of developing countries. They must reject and return stolen funds, so that respective governments of the affected developing countries could use the money to better the lives of the poor in their countries.
“It is the commonwealth of the people that has been diverted for private use. So, it is the worst form of human rights abuse. When corruption and impunity become the order of the day, human rights abuses flourish.
“When you consider the cause of water-borne diseases suffered by people in rural areas, it is because someone has diverted the funds meant for pipe-borne water in those areas.
‘Also, when you consider the fact that our hospitals lack basic amenities, it is because some people have kept the funds allocated to the hospitals to themselves. I, therefore, urge you to consider partnering the EFCC.”
On his part, the Senior Director, Office of the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Mr. Colm O Cuanachain, said nations that take anti-corruption war seriously would experience “phenomenal growth”.
Cuanachain, who expressed the readiness of AI to partner EFCC, also talked about the activities of the AI in the Northeast, the Niger Delta and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he said corruption had contributed to human rights violation.
He decried the death penalty as punishment for looters of the treasury.
“It is not the best option in the fight against corruption,” he said.
The Executive Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, M.K. Ibrahim, emphasised the need for the people to be educated on the effects of corruption and human rights violations.
