The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has announced the commission’s intention to investigate over 3,000 financial crime cases. These cases constitute a subset of the more than 5,000 petitions received by the EFCC from various groups and individuals. Mr. Olukoyede disclosed this information during the 20th-anniversary lecture of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resources Centre in Lagos.
As the guest lecturer at the event, Mr. Olukoyede highlighted the EFCC’s recent achievements, revealing that the agency has recovered over N60 billion and $10 million within less than four months since he assumed office. He underscored the prevalence of corruption in Nigeria and emphasized the need for collective responsibility to combat corruption and move the country forward.
Expressing concern about the challenge posed by corruption, Mr. Olukoyede stressed the importance of innovative measures to prevent or minimize the misappropriation of public funds and other financial crimes. He called for a shift in perspective, encouraging Nigerians to view anti-corruption efforts not as a confrontation between the EFCC and the public but as a collective initiative for the greater good.
Mr. Olukoyede acknowledged the limitations faced by anti-corruption agencies, such as the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), given their staffing constraints. He pointed out that the EFCC, with less than 4,800 staff, is tasked with serving a population of over 150 million people. Despite these challenges, he reiterated his commitment to using anti-corruption initiatives to stimulate the Nigerian economy.
