The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has pledged to lead a broad-based and holistic anti-graft war that would not spare anyone linked with any form of economic and financial crimes.
Olukoyede said the recent arraignment of two former governors was a demonstration that the EFCC would treat no one as a sacred cow.
The EFCC in January arraigned a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, for alleged theft of the state’s security votes to the tune of N4bn while he was in the saddle as governor between 2014 and 2022.
Similarly, the anti-graft agency, on February 24, 2024, arraigned the immediate-past Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, for alleged N10bn fraud.
Speaking on Monday at an anti-corruption concert in Abuja organised to sensitise the public against cybercrimes, the EFCC Chairman reaffirmed his commitment to an all-embracing, fully-integrated war against corrupt practices.
A statement by the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, quoted Olukoyede as saying: “We will not spare anyone. We will not spare the mega thieves. As we are doing the mega, we will also do those at the lower end.
“In the last two months, we have arraigned two former governors. So, it is not true that we are only focused on Internet fraudsters.
“Of course, Internet fraud is bad enough but our focus is on every form of economic and financial crimes.”
He cautioned youths against indulging in cybercrimes, pointing out that the consequences of being convicted of such crimes were grave.
“Youths need to know that being ex-convicts has career limitations. Ex-convicts can’t run for public office, the stigma alone is even terrible.
“I urge you to avoid Internet crimes by all means. Your future is more important than any immediate gains from such crimes,” he said.
Olukoyede said the EFCC under his watch was deeply interested in giving youths a glorious and sustainable future.
To this effect, he said a Cybercrime Research Centre was being planned at the EFCC Academy.
“The centre will involve youths in in-depth research about the issue of cybercrime. Their energies will be deployed toward profitable engagements,” he said.
Olukoyede charged the youth to embrace hard work and diligence, stressing that the path to success was hard work and dignity.
“There is dignity in labour. Let’s come together. All of us must come together and agree that corruption is evil. Don’t leave the fight to EFCC alone,” he said.
The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, enjoined youth across the country to support the EFCC in its crusade against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
“Nigeria is supposed to have progressed more than this. We will not allow corrupt people to destroy our future, that is why we need to come together and fight this evil in our society. That is why we need to continuously run this campaign because I am convinced that every one of us has a part to play. Without you, there is little or nothing the EFCC can do.
“Let’s show the world that Nigeria’s young people are determined to change the narrative,” the minister said.
