A London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has signed an agreement with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) to tackle corruption in the public sector.
The partnership was signed by Dr Musa Aliyu, chairman of the ICPC and Justin Gosling, EIA’s Securing Criminal Justice Programme Lead, opening the door for increased cooperation and information sharing between the respective organisations.
Dr Aliyu recognised the importance of addressing corruption within the field of environmental crime, saying: “Environmental crimes such as wildlife trafficking, pollution and those contributing to climate change pose a major threat to Nigerians.
Gosling said the EIA has been working for almost five years in Nigeria and in West and Central Africa, developing the capacity of investigators, raising awareness and understanding among prosecutors and the judiciary.
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Gosling said the new partnership was critical to evolving the response to environmental crime in the region.
“Environmental criminal networks are driven by profit and financial gain and the role of corruption in public sectors cannot be underestimated.
“We welcome this ground-breaking agreement with the ICPC and look forward to developing strategies together to address wildlife trafficking and other forms of environmental crimes,” he further explained.
EIA’s projects in West and Central Africa are supported by the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Defra Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the Pangolin Crisis Fund and the Full Circle Foundation.
According to EIA, the group investigates and campaigns against environmental crime and abuse. Its undercover investigations expose transnational wildlife crimes, with a focus on elephants, pangolins and tigers and forest crimes such as illegal logging and deforestation for cash crops such as palm oil.
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