Tinubu inaugurates EFCC office in Ekiti, hails anti-corruption fight

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday inaugurated the zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and hailed the anti-graft agency for successes recorded in the anti-corruption fight.

Tinubu, represented by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who inaugurated the state-of-the-art office complex zonal office covering Ondo and Ekiti states in Ado Ekiti, noted that EFCC occupied a central position in both the country’s economic report and its national security.

The President, who hailed the successes recorded by the anti-graft agency, said, “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”.

He said, “EFCC’s 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 forcing fraudulent Ponzi schemes and securing Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list have further strengthened our economic reforms and improved the investment outlook.

“Through aggressive asset tracing and recovery, the Commission has made resources available for critical social investment programmes such as the Students’ Loan Scheme Network and Credit Corp,” Tinubu said.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, who said that the state government provided the land for the EFCC zonal office, was part of a demonstration of our “commitment to good government, intergovernmental cooperation, transparency, support to the commendable job of the commission and also complement the fight against corruption crusade of our dear president”.

Oyebanji said, “There is no doubt that this office will enhance the administrative capacity of the Commission” and make access to the commission easy for victims of financial crimes who had been discouraged by repeated trips to far distances to pursue justice.

The governor said that “apart from the office accommodations, we also provided a 220kva standby generator to ensure a constant power supply. It must be emphasised that the Ekiti State government has always extended other forms of assistance to other similar federal agencies in this state.”

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who appreciated President Tinubu for identifying with the project, said, “Your presence today is a testament to the unbroken resolve to strengthen the EFCC’s hand in the war against corruption”.

Olukoyede, who said that EFCC was significantly energised to continue its work in an atmosphere of professionalism and total compliance with the Rule of Law, also expressed gratitude to the Ekiti State Government for making the site available and supporting the project from conception to conclusion.

The EFCC chairman, who said that the establishment of the zonal office covering Ekiti and Ondo states would bridge gaps in the commission’s enforcement framework, said, “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”.

He said, “This facility is an assurance to the governments and peoples 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 will 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 well-being of our people and, and by the special grace of God and the support of all of you, we will spare no efforts in stamping them out.

“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”.

The EFCC boss said that proceeds of recovered assets by the commission were being invested in critical social programmes like the Students Loans Scheme and the Consumer Credit Scheme, adding that several national institutions, including the NNPCL, NRS, AMCON, and NDDC, had been beneficiaries of the Commission’s asset recovery drive.

He said, “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 enlisted the support of the people of Ondo and Ekiti states, saying, “All stakeholders and all our stakeholders in the anti-corruption community are 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!”

Among dignitaries that graced the inauguration were Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende; Former Ekiti State Governor, Segun Oni; Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye; and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.