By Nkechi Eze
As part of its efforts to combat corruption and economic crimes, emphasizing the importance of collective commitment to exposing and tackling these issues, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has called on Nigerians to refrain from offering any kind of support to suspects and convicts of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
Olukoyede gave the charge in Abuja Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room, ACSR organized by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, HEDA.
Speaking on the topic “Ethics, Integrity, Corruption Risk Assessments and Anti-Corruption at National and Sub-National Levels; Sustaining the fight against corruption in Nigeria”, the EFCC’s boss stressed that any form of support offered corrupt elements may have detrimental effects on the fight against corruption.
“I urge you that when you see people whom we are prosecuting and we have shown you the evidence, don’t carry placards, don’t join them to fight us, because you are contributing to the problems, if we must fight this cankerworm, then all of these must stop. We must fight both the mini and the mega, let’s give the people the dividend of democracy for once” he said.
While urging Nigerians to support leaders with integrity, he stressed that his stance on fighting corruption would continue to be without fear or favor.
The Country Director and Deputy Director of Macarthur Foundation, Dr Kola Shetima and Dr Aminu Salihu in their goodwill messages stressed the need for collective action against corruption pointing out that Nigeria is a commonwealth that must be protected.
“This is our country and there is nowhere we can go other than this country. We all have to play our parts, this country is our common wealth. We all have a share in our commonwealth. What we are doing is about the material conditions of the people, the issues that affect our people and so it is our collective responsibility to work together to achieve our goals” they said.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Garba Abari, pointed out that Nigerians are paying so much attention to politically -exposed persons, neglecting the civil servants and those in the private sector. “Many things happen in the public service, there is so much corruption going on there. We have also neglected the private sectors a lot because most of the fraud that is committed is through the banks. We should pay attention to the local government level. Let’s ensure local government autonomy. We thank the Executive Chairman of EFCC who is equally making efforts to stop those who are relooting our recoveries” he said
In another vein, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, submitted that the fight against corruption should be taken to the grassroots as it is difficult to combat corruption without alliance with the people, who are the victims.
“We must go to the grassroots to make sure that the money meant for the people is judiciously used. The people must hold the leaders accountable by knowing what is going on. The people should be sensitized, they should be carried along, and they should be able to monitor their budgets. The state government should have anti- corruption agencies at the state levels to checkmate corruption in the states”
Several other speakers bared their minds on moving the nation forward through robust anti-corruption efforts. Managing Director, Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr stated that corruption remained a threat to the nation suggesting accountability and transparency of resources by anyone entrusted with government funds. He maintained that prevention method was more potent and effective in the fight against corruption, urging greater focus on ethics, integrity and risk assessment to sustain the fight against graft.
Former Director-General, Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering, GIABA , Professor Shehu Abdullahi lamented that corruption takes away freedom of the people and provides impunity for corrupt officials, adding that every successful leader must demonstrate integrity through honesty, accountability, responsibility, fairness among others. He noted that youths are the architects of a world without corruption and they must have the courage to demand it.
“In fighting corruption we should take an integrated approach which should be evidence- based, transparent, non- partisan, all- inclusive and comprehensive. Fighting corruption has consequences but we must be ready to fight back. We must take action, for prevention remains the way out” he said.
