WorldStage– The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede says there’s need for collaboration and deep understanding of issues involved in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption as potent tools of achieving sustainable success in the fight.
He stated this in Abuja at the 2025 EFCC- Media/Civil Society Organisation’s Capacity- Building Workshop, held at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi Abuja.
The Chairman, who was represented by the Director, Public Affairs Directorate of the Commission, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren stated that the Commission placed strong values and significance in building collaboration and mutual understanding with all stakeholders.
“The media and civil society organisations, no doubt, are very critical to the work of fighting every form of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
“The nexus between the media and civil society organisations is very strong, they are like the right ear and left ear of the same horse, they have a shared mandate exposing shadiness and integrity deficit in individuals and groups across the country.
“This is why the Commission considered it imperative to bring together these stakeholders in a capacity-building workshop,” he said.
Speaking further, Olukoyede stated that the issues for discussion revolved around operational, legal, and the media adding that understanding the key issues will impact public appreciation of the work of the EFCC.
He further stressed: “Equally important is the role of the media and CSOs in driving preventive framework of the commission, it is believed that discussion of all these germane topics will broaden and widen their understanding and public grasp of how they are being tackled by the EFCC.
“Our commitment to stakeholders’ engagement is absolute. Public ownership of the fight against corruption remains the most potent and enduring modality of driving and sustaining the fight. Closely related to this is the enlightened conversation on salient issues involved in the anti-graft fight.”
He emphasized that the EFCC was focused on moving the nation forward. “Without fear or favour and in taking such a route, corruption is bound to fight back, by whatever means the fight back is designed, we cannot be rattled or intimidated as far as we are concerned, right is might, and is often said, conscience is an open wound, only the truth can heal”
Speaking on the challenges of prosecuting cases of economic and financial crimes in Nigeria, a Director in the legal and prosecution department, Commander of the EFCC, CE Dr. Ben Ubi stated that the efforts of the EFCC Chairman and the Commission’s officers have over the years helped remove the name of Nigeria from the list of non-cooperating countries and territories of the Financial Action Task Force, FATF, showing that if not for the painstaking efforts of the EFCC, the country would have long been blacklisted.
Speaking on cryptocurrency fraud and other emerging financial crimes, an officer from the cybercrime Section of the Commission, Sam Agbi Enahoro urged the stakeholders to stay away from engaging in any business or online trade that may jeopardise their work and integrity. He offered explanations on technicalities involved in crypto currency transactions and pointed out how fraudulent dealings are creeping into the business.
He also cautioned the audience against unrealistic and jumbo offers, stressing that “when it is too good to be true, please don’t do it.”
Speaking on the Role of Media, and Civil society organisations in Driving the Preventive Framework of the Commission, Spokesperson and Head, Media and Publicity Unit of the Commission, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE, Dele Oyewale urged the media and CSOs to join the EFCC in driving those modalities.
“As civil society organizations and media professionals, how are we driving the preventive framework of the anti-corruption fight?
“When the EFCC Chairman came in October 2023, he unfolded the preventive modality of fighting corruption and to all intent and purposes, across the world, it is the preventive framework that is more potent, more socially beneficial in fighting corruption,” he said.
Oyewale added: “If we wait until the money is stolen, the assets are stolen and everything is stolen before we now embark on recovery drive, there is no way you can recover all, but if there are modalities in place that will safeguard the stealing of the money, the looting of the treasury or any other thing that any fraudulent people may want to do, then we will be able to save the society from all of these losses.”
The Chief of Staff to the EFCC, CE Micheal Nzekwe appreciated the effort of the media and civil society in playing vital roles in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
He also thanked them for the support that they are giving to the EFCC.
“Nigeria is the greatest beneficiary of the work that we all do and sometimes there can be pressures here and there, but in all of that, always put the nation and EFCC first,” he said.
