The newly appointed chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, was recently confirmed by the Senate. He took over from Andulkarim Chukkol, who stepped in as acting chairman of the agency following the suspension of the erstwhile chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, “to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office.”
Bawa’s suspension came on the heels of weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him. The appointment of Olukoyede as the EFCC boss has been criticized and applauded in equal measure with both sides of the divide giving reasons for their positions. That notwithstanding, Olukoyede should strive to excel in ridding the country of financial crimes.
Although the EFCC is set up to fight all forms of financial impropriety, its headship has unfortunately been reportedly tainted with ignominy and disreputable practices since it was set up by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. Almost all past heads of the agency left office in controversial circumstances, with some accused of official sleaze and abuse of office. Currently, the immediate past chairman of the commission, Bawa Abdulrasheed is embroiled in alleged official financial heist. The new EFCC boss must avoid the mistakes of the past heads of the agency. He should lead by example.
There is indeed a cause for concern if the headship of an anti-graft agency is always enmeshed in one form of financial misdemeanour or another. No doubt, the EFCC has recorded enormous successes since its inception, many people believe that the agency must avoid selective trial of suspects. The agency should not forgive loyalists of the government in power while hounding political opponents or dissenting voices of government policies. Let its activities be guided by the rule of law and due process.
Therefore, the new EFCC chairman must hit the ground running. Olukoyede has his job well cut out for him. Let him endeavour to restore the waning confidence of Nigerians in the anti-graft agency. Many Nigerians see the EFCC as a tool in the hands of government to harass political opponents and protect government apologists. The ugly narrative must change.
Again, the EFCC has acquired the disreputation as a body only interested in pursuing small time criminals like young, internet fraudsters while many public officers who pilfer and plunder the national wealth are allowed to move about with their loot. We urge Olukoyede to embark on image cleansing of the commission. Nigerians must see and believe in the commission as an anti-graft agency that serves the interest of the state.
One of the criticisms against the EFCC is selective arrest and prosecution of suspects. Some Nigerians has lampooned the agency for its penchant for media trial as well as arrest of suspects before investigations. The EFCC under Olukoyede must go after real criminals and those who defraud the government instead of chasing internet fraudsters. There are many government and public officials with fat files in the EFCC office, yet the commission has decided to look away while the impunity reigns.
Olukoyede must jettison the culture of selective justice and unbridled media trial of suspects. Any public official, no matter how highly placed, found to have been involved in financial crime must be brought to the book. Olukoyede should succeed in his new assignment. He is eminently qualified for the job. There will be no excuses. Let him recover all stolen monies belonging to the government. Nigeria will not see genuine development if official sleaze is condoned. In the current dispensation, no public official should be untouchable. There should be no sacred cows.
The nation’s economy is in dire straits because of the humongous amount of money stolen daily by public officials and their willing partners. Nigeria loses billions of dollars every year due to oil theft. The new EFCC chairman must save the country from further financial waste. He must reassure Nigerians that the commission is not an extension of those in power.
The EFCC chairman must curb the nation of financial crimes. Olukoyede and his men should restore the fading hopes of Nigerians on the commission. He should also remove the bad eggs in the agency. We congratulate Olukoyede on his new appointment and wish him a successful tenure.