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Despite the recent applause the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC received from the presidency and the National Assembly, not a few Nigerians are of the opinion that the Commission needs to do more to justify the effusive praises. Recall that recently, Senate
President, Senator Godswill Akpabio praised EFCC’s performance, attributing it to effective leadership and a “quiet revolution in its operations” The commendation, according to the Senate President, was tied to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s focus on strengthening anti-graft institutions.
For the records, the EFCC under the leadership of Olanipekun Olukoyede has made commendable achievements including securing over 10,000 convictions and more than N365 billion in recoveries in 2024.
Truth be told: Whether or not you are a fan of this administration or of the the EFCC, you cannot but agree that such record deserves commendation. However, such commendation coming from a politician and third highest politcal office holder in the land who himself has a record to be scrutinized by the same anti- graft Commission is suspicious. It speaks volume.
According to an African proverb, “if your good deeds depends on who’s watching, then they’re not really good deeds”. One only hopes that by eulogizing the EFCC those in the corridors of federal power are not trying to cover up their sins.
Aside Senator Akpabio, only recently Vice President Kashim Shettima also praised the EFCC to high heavens when he decleared that the Commission recovered assets worth over ₦500 billion and secured about 7,000 convictions in the past two years under the administration of President Tinubu. Shettima’s disclosure leaves critics of the Tinubu administration questioning why the presidency should serve as the mouth piece of the Commission.
Well, I do not doubt that the 8th chairman of the EFCC, Olukoyede, and his staff will be motivated by the praises from the National Assembly and the presidency. I’m optimistic that VP Shettima and Senator Akpabio’s words of commendation will further spur Olukoyede and his team into doubling efforts in ridding the country of corruption and corrupt tendencies.
Meanwhile, amidst the praises being showered on the EFCC, generality of Nigerians want to know how transparent award of government contracts are, the contractual or project cost and how such contacts are being executed. This is because in today’s Nigeria, government contract awards have become conduits for siphoning public funds. Contracts are brazenly awarded without the actual cost made public. And even when the contracts have been executed, there is always no mention of the nature of the contract or the cost of it- projects like, road, hospital, school etc fall under this category.
Questions that tug at the hearts of a broad spectrum of Nigerians are, where does the funds used to run some of the Renewed Hope Agenda programmes come from? Where is the funding coming from and where does Governors getting funding for their political campaigns from?
These are questions Nigerians expect the EFCC to examine, get clarity and provide answers to, after all part of its mandate or statutory duty is to eradicate economic and financial crimes through prevention, enforcement, and coordination. The EFCC should not be carried away by the praises it is getting from politicians. The Commission should realise that many Nigerians are still waiting for the result and outcome of many investigations it has carried out on politicians such as the case of former Governor Yayah Bello of Kogi state and many others whose cases seems inconclusive and full of unsolved posers.
The EFCC has presence in 17 zonal offices across the country and like a red neck lizard that fell from a rooftop and noticed that no eye witness applauded its stunt, shook its head in self appraisal, the Commission has, long before praises came from the National Assembly and the presidency, passed a verdict of excellence on itself as can be gleaned from its mid term report.The Commission’s spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale aptly did some self- praising in the midterm report where he outlined the achievements of the EFCC, including money recovery efforts.
As revealed by the mid term report, the Commission indeed recorded an impressive achievement. A breakdown shows recovered amount of money around the world:
Naira – N566,319,820,343.40
USD – $411,566,192.32
British pounds – £71,306.25
Euro – €182,877.10
CAD – CAD $5,510.00
AUD – AUD$740.00
Chinese Yuan – ¥89,859.00
Indian rupee – ¥89,859.00
CFA – CFA8,381,375.00
AED – AED70.00
SAR – SAR310,265.00
GHC – GHC225.00
RAND – R50.00
SOUTH KOREAN WON – W73,000.00
I commend the outstanding achievements of the Commission in the past two years and hope that it will continue to be on the march in the positive direction and will be unstoppable. It’s hoped too that the hand of the Commission will not be twisted to swing while it marches on with outstanding feats.
Indeed, such impressive achievements should further encourage the chairman and members of his staff to fearlessly and courageously march down corruption in the country. Three notable world leaders had described corruption in these terms: According to the late South African President, Nelson Mandela “Where there is corruption, honest men are mocked, and criminals are praised”. Also late President of America, John F Kennedy had said: “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened” While Barack Obama in one of his incredible speeches insisted that “a nation that can’t control corruption can’t achieve its potential” A word, it is said, is enough for the wise. It is the fervent wish of Nigerians that the EFCC allows itself to be guided by the immortal words of the great leaders above.The Eagle which is EFCC’s symbol indicates that the Commission can detect corruption from any height with precision just like the Eagle can effortlessly sight a tiny object from it’s mountainous height, so one expects the agency to smell corruption everywhere and anywhere around the country, As the Eagle is known for it’s strength, swiftness and sagacity, so also, are Nigerians expecting the EFCC to continue showing and displaying impressive results by effecting more arrests and prosecution of corrupt political and government officials. Nigerians don’t expect the Commission and it’s chairman to always listen and dance to the drumbeats of the governments and politicians but to strictly adhere to every drumbeat of the Act that set it up!
Security File wishes the Commission more fruitful and result oriented years ahead.
(Concluded)
Security Tips
As the yuletide and New Year draw close, Nigerians are advised to:
1. Avoid late night movements if possible
2. Always use verified ride apps(bolt, Uber, indrive)
3. Ensure that they keep their car doors and windows locked when driving in traffic
4. Ensure that school children are well protected when going and coming back from school and should be taught security lessons on how to avoid strangers.
Credit: Nurhie Israel Oghenetega (software developer)
