The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has outlined how members of the public can report suspected fraud and other financial crimes through its online petition portal.
The commission said petitioners must provide truthful and accurate information when filing complaints, warning that false petitions are criminal offences.
According to the EFCC, anyone who submits a false petition may be punished under Section 64(3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The offence attracts a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine not above ₦100,000.
Details required from petitioners
To submit a petition, complainants are expected to fill out an online form with their personal information.
The required details include first name, surname, National Identification Number, gender, phone number, email address, country, state, local government area and residential address.
The middle name field is optional.
Petitioners are also required to state the type of submission they are making.
Information about the case
The EFCC also requires details of the alleged fraud or financial crime being reported.
This includes the title or subject of the petition, the name of the suspect, the suspect’s location, the name of the complainant and the location where the alleged crime took place.
The petitioner must also state the amount involved and the currency.
In the petition section, the complainant is expected to give a clear and detailed account of what happened.
Supporting evidence
The commission allows petitioners to upload supporting documents, although this is optional.
Accepted files include PDF documents and image files. Each uploaded file must not be more than 10MB.
Such documents may help the EFCC understand the complaint better and process the petition more effectively.
Security verification and declaration
Before submitting a petition, users must complete a security verification process.
They are also required to confirm that they have read and understood the EFCC’s warning on false petitions.
By submitting the form, petitioners agree that the information they have provided is true and accurate.
The EFCC said complete and correct information will help it assess petitions properly and take appropriate steps where necessary.
Members of the public who want to report suspected fraud or financial crimes can do so through the EFCC’s official petition portal.
