The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has called for enhanced collaboration among security agencies in the fight against corruption and insecurity in the country.
He made the call on Tuesday, July 1, 202,5,
during the study tour of the student officers of Senior Leadership and Staff Officers’ Course 3/2025 of the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management, NACOLM, Ojo, Lagos, to the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.
The EFCC Chairman, who spoke through the Head, Legal and Prosecution, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Francis Jirbo, noted that it was only through enhanced collaboration and synergy that corruption, insecurity, and other forms of criminality can be defeated in the country.
In his remarks, the course Instructor, Lieutenant Colonel J.O. Elimian disclosed that the theme of the study tour was “Optimising National Security Through a Whole of Society Approach” while the objective of the visit, he said, was to enable the student officers, derive practical understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the EFCC in optimising national security.
ACE I Williams Oseghale, Head, Media and Publicity Unit, Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in his presentation titled, “EFCC from the Beginning, Successes and Challenges,” noted that the Commission was established on April 13, 2003 by the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo due to the prevalence of corruption, economic and financial crimes which nearly reduced the country to a pariah. He disclosed that, in its 22 years of existence, the Commission has superbly discharged its core mandates of investigation, prosecution, and prevention of economic and financial crimes, leading to thousands of convictions, the recovery of billions of naira, and the restoration of investors’ confidence in the economy. Oseghale listed some of the Commission’s milestones to include the convictions of some former state governors, managing directors of banks, top police and military officers, top civil servants, bankers, among several others. He also listed the forfeiture of 753 units of duplexes in Abuja to the federal government and the arrest of over 190 foreigners involved in cyber crimes and money laundering in one single operation in Lagos.
Some of the Commission challenges he noted included intimidation, harassment and death threats to its officers, insufficient funds to carry out prevention and sensitisation programmes, the slow-moving wheel of justice and public misconception and cynicism.
Ibrahim Boyi, Head, Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, disclosed that the unit was established to monitor, supervise and regulate the activities of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) and Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) in the country for money laundering and terrorism financing. He noted that the Financial Action Task Force, FATF, sets standards for countries to adopt in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Major N. H. Shehu, in his vote of thanks, commended the Commission for the engagement, stating that the officers are better informed about the activities of the Commission and its contribution to national security and economic growth as a result of the engagement.
The leader of the team, Navy Captain N. Lawali, in his remark, noted that the Commission was a strategic partner in combating security challenges in the country and works hand-in-hand with the military and other security agencies in ensuring a safe environment for all. He further disclosed that the knowledge garnered from the engagement session would enhance the content of their training and the study tour.
