In a pivotal development, the Nigerian Senate has screened and confirmed Ola Olukoyede as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). During his screening, Olukoyede emphasized the importance of beginning the fight against corruption within the National Assembly itself.
Olukoyede told senators, “Let the fight against corruption begin from this hallowed chamber. If you are fighting corruption, you become the enemy of everybody.”
He further expressed his readiness to work, regardless of potential obstacles, saying, “Enforcement is a very strong tool in our hands, and we are going to apply it very seriously.”
The new EFCC chairman stressed the need to shift the focus of anti-corruption agencies towards prevention rather than just enforcement. He highlighted the significance of establishing an effective credit system to discourage cash transactions for luxury properties, as well as the need to improve living standards for Nigerians to reduce the motivation for corruption.
Olukoyede also called on the judiciary to prioritize substantive justice over technicalities when handling corruption cases. He suggested that prosecutions should not extend for more than five years, from the court of first instance to the Supreme Court.
Olukoyede argued that there is a direct link between low living standards in Nigeria and the prevalence of corruption. He underscored the importance of blocking financial leakages and preventing corruption, noting that Nigeria lost a substantial sum to procurement fraud.
According to his findings, Nigeria lost approximately N2.9 trillion to procurement fraud over three years. He highlighted that had this money not been stolen, it could have funded various critical projects and initiatives across the country.
The Senate witnessed a moment of humor when Senate President Godswill Akpabio playfully remarked, “I’m very glad that the nominee wants to use the Senate President as an example. But Mr. nominee, leave the Senate President for now.”
Apart from confirming Ola Olukoyede as the EFCC Chairman, the Senate also approved Muhammad Hammajoda as the Secretary of the EFCC and Halima Shehu as the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme.
This confirmation marks a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and improve the nation’s overall governance.
Stay tuned for more updates on this important development.