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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
President Bola Tinubu has restated his administration’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption in the country.
Tinubu made the remarks on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, during the official inauguration of the state-of-the-art Ekiti Zonal Directorate office complex of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Tinubu, who applauded the Commission’s remarkable achievements, noted that the anti-graft agency occupies a central position in the country’s economic and national security, hence the need to continue to support its operational capacity.
The new office, which is part of the Commission’s broader effort at tackling corruption in the nation, was built to serve Ekiti and Ondo states in the zone.
The President, who was represented by his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima, while urging the Agency and other sister agencies to sustain the current tempo through synergistic strategies, reiterated his commitment to strengthening the anti-corruption institutions in the country.
“No nation can rise above the integrity of its public systems because development is defeated when corruption is allowed to stand between its citizens and the promises of the state. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was created to defend those promises, to protect our economy from criminal enterprise and to remind every citizen that public trust is sacred.
“It therefore gives me great pleasure, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), to be part of the commissioning of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate office complex, a new chapter of the Agency.
“I commend the Executive Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, and his steadfastness and vigour in the aggressive pursuit of the anti-corruption war. Their work affirms our conviction that the fight against corruption must be organised, sustained and supported by the right institutions, the right tools and the right working environment.
“The present administration considers it important that law enforcement agencies, which are critical to our collective safety, security, prosperity and general well-being, will have the necessary facilities to enhance their efficiency. I am confident that this state-of-the-art facility will further motivate the staff of the EFCC to rededicate themselves to combating economic and financial crimes which remain major obstacles for our nation’s progress. Investing in the capacity and welfare of officers of anti-corruption agencies, particularly the EFCC, is a strategic national imperative.
“The Commission occupies a central position in both our economic report and our national security. Its contributions to tackling cyber-terrorism are evident in the dismantling of a foreign-controlled cryptocurrency syndicate in Lagos, resulting in the conviction of 192 foreigners in a single operation.
“Its successes in foiling fraudulent Ponzi schemes and securing Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s Grey List has further strengthened our economic reforms and improved the country’s investment outlook.
“Through aggressive asset tracing and recovery, the Commission has made resources available for critical social investment programmes such as the student loan scheme (NELFUND) and CrediCorp, the consumer credit scheme.
“The EFCC’s recent prosecution of several high-profile corruption cases, including the conviction of a former minister and a former managing director of a national investment bank, sends a clear message that there are no hiding places for the corrupt.
“These measures demonstrate that Nigeria will not tolerate corruption and anyone found under such conduct will be punished under our law.
“I encourage the EFCC and its sister agencies, the ICPC, to sustain the present tempo until corruption is reduced to the barest minimum in our national life. We will continue to invest in strengthening anti-corruption agencies through conducive working environments, competitive welfare packages, operational independence and adequate training opportunities.
“Early sacrifices made in defence of our nation’s well-being will not be taken for granted. I also commend the EFCC for its efforts in investigating and prosecuting terrorism-financing cases which support the government’s fight against insecurity.
“I encourage the Commission to sustain its leading role in this regard and in preventing the laundering of proceeds of crime in Nigeria. The security of our nation is inseparable from the security of its financial system, because those who threaten peace often depend on hidden channels of illicit finance.
“I acknowledge the contributions of the Commission in checking illicit financial flows through the Special Control Unit against money laundering. However, more needs to be done, and no agency can win this fight alone. I therefore call on other security and law enforcement organisations in this zone to work in synergy with the EFCC to ensure that the Commission achieves its objectives.
“I congratulate the personnel of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate of the EFCC and the people of Ekiti and Ondo states on this milestone. I also wish to commend the government and people of Ekiti State for cooperating fully with the Commission so as to actualise its dream.
“I urge the Commission to make good use of this facility, and I charge the officers who will serve here to remember that every file they treat, every investigation they pursue, and every conviction they secure, strengthen the convictions of our Republic. I wish to once again congratulate the Chairman of the EFCC for an outstanding job and commitment to good governance.”
The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, in his remarks, commended President Tinubu and attributed the giant strides recorded under his leadership to the President’s unflinching support and the enabling environment provided for the Commission to operate.
According to him, the current administration’s support strategically placed the Agency and continued to motivate it to confront the corruption realities in the country.
He also hailed the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, for supporting the project from conception to completion.
The EFCC boss described the establishment of the new office as a milestone to further strengthen the Agency’s anti-corruption crusade in the zone.
The Chairman, who disclosed that the Commission was confronted with some challenges covering the two states, noted that the new facility will help to surmount previously experienced challenges.
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“It is a milestone of immense significance, and I want to specially thank Mr President, Bola Tinubu, ably represented by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, for identifying with this project. Your presence today is testament to the unbroken resolve to strengthen the EFCC’s hand in the war against corruption. The Commission is significantly energised to continue its work in an atmosphere of professionalism and total compliance with the rule of law.
“The edifice that we are gathered to commission today is the crystallisation of a unique vision in institution building and consolidation. For many years, coverage of Ekiti and Ondo states by the Commission was a little more than perfunctory owing to the overlap in responsibility by distant zones, which left gaps in our enforcement framework. The chink is now permanently covered with this modern office complex, which has statutory responsibility to take the crusade against corruption to the people of Ekiti and Ondo states, including the contiguous communities and towns.
“We must express our profound gratitude to the Government of Ekiti State for making this site available and supporting the project from conception to conclusion. We are equally indebted to Mr President, the National Assembly, and indeed all Nigerians for their unalloyed support that brought this project to fruition.”
Olukoyede urged residents not to see the Commission’s presence in the region as intimidating but as a collective mission towards ridding the country of corruption.
“Let me state in unequivocal terms that our presence here should not scare anybody. As a Commission, we have set for ourselves a challenge to chart a new path in law enforcement in Nigeria, which is focussed on entrusting the fight to the people. If you have nothing to hide, you can be rest assured that if the EFCC knocks on your door, it is to ask for your support; you have nothing to fear.
“This facility is an assurance to the governments and people of Ekiti and Ondo states that EFCC is fully on ground to bring our services as Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption agency closer to our people in this zone. With this investment, I want to pledge that fraudsters would have no hiding places in the zone. This pledge is a statement of conviction, as the Commission’s pedigree in this region speaks for itself. Those of us who have followed the activities of the EFCC in the Southwest will attest to our impressive record of enforcement against cybercrime and illegal mining activities. These activities threaten the economic wellbeing of our people and, by the special grace of God and the support of all of you, we will spare no efforts in stamping them out.
“We cannot over-emphasise the importance of a befitting and functional office infrastructure for personnel motivation and productivity. This need is being met for the personnel of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate today and my vision is to ensure that all staff in EFCC offices work in a decent environment. We took care to reconfigure the old structure inherited by the Commission into a modern office complex with all the facilities that make working in a law enforcement environment pleasurable. These include well-furnished offices with modern workstations, a holding facility for suspects, a canteen for staff and suspects, and more.”
The Chairman, who lamented that corruption has deeply eaten into every facet of the country, expressed the Commission’s unrelenting efforts at ending the scourge.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that corruption has become the most dangerous threat to human existence because every security, political, economic and social crisis can be traced to the contagion of corruption. As a Commission, we are fully aware of this, which is why we are unrelenting in our determination to completely eradicate the malaise from Nigeria.
“Those who doubt our resolve must sooner come to terms with the fact that the EFCC is a marathoner and when it comes to the fight against corruption, we never give up. This was aptly demonstrated in the recent conviction of a former managing director of a national investment bank who was sentenced to 490 years. That was quickly followed by the conviction of a former minister of power, Saleh Mamman, who bagged 75 years imprisonment for defrauding Nigeria of N22 billion in the Zungeru and Mambilla power projects. The remarkable thing about these convictions is that the defendants were not availed of any option of fine.
“EFCC’s anti-corruption credentials are also fully expressed in our records of conviction, assets recovery and other creative initiatives such as the Department of Fraud Risk and Control, which is redefining corruption prevention through the tracking of budget releases and performance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies.”
He disclosed that every dime recovered under his watch had been judiciously managed and maintained that the EFCC will not rest on its oars in its asset recovery drive.
“Proceeds of recovered assets by the Commission have been invested in critical social programmes like the Student Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Scheme. Indeed, students of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State will never forget that their institution drew its lifeblood from the arteries of a recovered property—Nok University. Several other national institutions have been beneficiaries of the Commission’s asset recovery drive, including the NNPCL, NRS, AMCON and NDDC.
“The Commission was equally instrumental in getting Nigeria off the Financial Action Task Force’s Grey List, a measure that has improved Nigeria’s investment climate.
“In spite of these milestones, it is obvious that there are still challenges in ridding our nation of corruption and fraud. However, the structures are already laid, and the future is bright for the teeming foot soldiers of anti-corruption.”
He urged officers who will be posted to the new office to use the facility well and discharge their duties with utmost professionalism.
“For officers of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate who will use this facility, I must hasten to stress that to whom much is given, much more is expected. I expect the people of Ekiti and Ondo states to feel the impact of this investment through your commitment to the mandate of the Commission.
“Your status as a new office should not be an excuse for non-performance. Above all, ensure that this facility is kept in top shape at all times.”
Declaring that there is no hiding place for fraudsters in Ekiti and Ondo states, Olukoyede appealed to residents in both states to support the EFCC to deliver on its mandate of eradicating corruption in the region and the country at large.
“I call on the people of Ekiti and Ondo states, all our stakeholders in the anti-corruption community to rally around the EFCC by providing support in whatever way possible to enable the Commission to deliver on its mandate. Success in the fight against corruption is an impossible task without the buy-in of the people. This is your zone, own it and run with it!”
On his part, the State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, said, “We promised to support and collaborate with the Agency to ensure a timely delivery of this edifice as a demonstration of our commitment to good government and also to complement the anti-corruption crusade of our dear President Bola Tinubu.
“Today’s commissioning is the fulfilment of that promise. Apart from the office accommodation, we also provided a 220 kva standby generator to ensure constant electricity in the building. It must be emphasised that the state government has always extended other forms of assistance to other similar federal agencies in the state.
“There is no doubt that this office will enhance the administrative capacity of the Commission and lessen the stress that suspects under investigation from both states go through in the previous location.
“Before now, Ekiti was under the Ilorin zonal directorate; the distance made access to the Commission very expensive, stressful and torturous. Because of the distance involved, many of our people who have been victims of financial crimes have had to lick their wounds quietly because of having to make repeated trips to far distances to pursue justice. Similarly, families of suspects under investigation often find it difficult to provide the necessary assistance and support to their relations being investigated, just as distance has similarly hampered the timeliness and effectiveness of investigation by EFCC operations itself.
“With the completion and commissioning of this complex, it is our hope that all of those challenges are now a thing of the past. The immediate gains are that Ekiti and Ondo states will be better served and the physical presence of the Commission here will also serve as a disincentive to economic criminals and saboteurs.”
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede; Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Emmanuel Udende; Ekiti Chief Judge, Lekan Ogunmoye; Ekiti Attorney General, Dayo Apata (SAN); and the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, led by its chairman, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, among others, were present at the well-attended event.
